Lowe’s skilled trades investment tops $60 million

The Lowe’s Foundation is awarding nearly $8 million in grants to 10 community and technical colleges across the U.S. to expand their HVAC, plumbing, and electrical programs, among other trades, the organization announced Monday. 

What’s happening: That pushes the foundation’s total investment in skilled trades training to over $60 million since 2023 and expands its network of funded partners to 73 organizations in 30 states.

• The grants will support schools in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
• See the full list

The backdrop: In 2023, the Lowe’s Foundation pledged $50 million to help train 50,000 skilled tradespeople by 2027 — but surpassed that goal ahead of schedule.

• As a result, the foundation in April expanded its commitment fivefold, pledging $250 million to train 250,000 workers by 2035.

What they’re saying: “Funding is just one part of the equation; our greatest impact comes from bringing the entire ecosystem together,” Janice Dupré, chair of the Lowe’s Foundation, said in a Monday statement.

• “We are proud to help lead this collaborative model, to train and develop skilled trade professionals to serve across multiple industries and companies,” she added.