Workforce development remains a critical priority for the construction industry as contractors continue to face skilled labor shortages. Lowe's Foundation has expanded its investment in trades education by awarding nearly $8 million in grants to community and technical colleges, increasing its nationwide support for construction and skilled trades training programs.
The latest Gable Grants will support 10 community and technical colleges across the United States, expanding training capacity in high-demand trades including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, construction and construction management.
Funding will be used to increase instructor capacity, enhance training laboratories, purchase hands-on equipment, expand mobile learning opportunities, provide scholarships and strengthen employer partnerships. Several colleges will also broaden access through bilingual instruction, rural outreach and apprenticeship-based learning.
The grants increase the Lowe's Foundation's total investment in skilled trades training to more than $60 million since launching the initiative in 2023. The foundation's network now includes 73 workforce development organizations operating across 30 states.
The newly funded institutions include colleges in Georgia, Utah, North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, West Virginia, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina.
Many of the programs are aligned with regional workforce needs, including residential and commercial construction, infrastructure development, manufacturing, energy, logistics and data center construction. Several recipients will expand real-world training environments through simulated jobsites, construction laboratories, mobile training units and employer-supported work-based learning.
The grants are part of the Lowe's Foundation's broader $250 million commitment to help train and develop 250,000 skilled trades professionals by 2035.
For construction owners, contractors and developers, expanding skilled trades education helps strengthen the industry's long-term labor pipeline. Increased investment in community college training programs can improve access to qualified craft professionals, support regional workforce needs and help address persistent labor shortages affecting construction projects across the United States.
Source: Lowe's Foundation.
