Since 2023, the Lowe’s Foundation has awarded over $25 million in Gable Grants to 35 community colleges and nonprofits offering innovative and scalable skilled-trades training across the U.S. Through these grants, program participants are strengthening their skills across carpentry and construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and appliance repair.
And this is just part of the Lowe’s Foundation’s larger $50-million investment over five years to help recruit and train 50,000 skilled-trades workers. Of that sum, SkillsUSA received a $1-million Gable Grant earlier this year.
“Through partnerships with SkillsUSA and the growing generation of future trades professionals, we are helping the world see that trades careers are not just to be respected, but revered,” said Janice Dupré, Lowe’s executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe’s Foundation. “These workers are making smart and sensible career choices that will benefit our country’s homes, neighborhoods and communities for decades to come.”
SIGN ME UP
In addition to the grant, the Lowe’s Foundation cohosted a record-setting National Signing Day with SkillsUSA in May. The event celebrated more than 3,000 students signing their letter of intent to pursue skilled-trades career pathways, while select Lowe’s stores rolled out a blue carpet to honor their achievements alongside their families and future employers.
“We have been proud to partner with SkillsUSA as the organization has grown over the decades,” says Betsy Conway, director of the Lowe’s Foundation. “I think one of the most exciting things that Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Foundation has done to support SkillsUSA is the support of the local chapters and state and national competitions. These competitions give the students an opportunity to showcase their incredible skills.”
With more than 1,700 stores across the country, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Foundation work closely with SkillsUSA nationally and locally, with many store associates engaging with local SkillsUSA chapters.
INVEST AND INSPIRE
As a public charity, the Lowe’s Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit—separate from Lowe’s Companies—and aims to open a door to the future of the construction industry. “In 2023, the Lowe’s Foundation honed our efforts into a singular purpose of supporting the skilled-trades workforce,” Conway says. “And that brought about our five-year, $50-million commitment to help prepare 50,000 individuals for these fulfilling and well-paying careers.”
Where does the Lowe’s Foundation hope to see those five years and $50 million take those 50,000 students? Conway hopes that “we’ll inspire individuals thinking about changing their career to consider opportunities within the skilled trades.
“We’re also working with SkillsUSA on expanding their workplace learning experience,” she continues. “This is a program that helps connect their students within the SkillsUSA network to employers and businesses through things such as microcredentials and other types of industry-accepted credentials. We believe this will help encourage and support even more students as they go through their skilled-trades training and ultimately enter into the field with employers.”
Conway recalls a couple students who are living proof of that belief. One previous SkillsUSA participant, named Paige, planned to enter the plumbing sector, “but then COVID occurred and she pivoted,” Conway says. “She went to community college for construction management and is now going into HVAC. She credits SkillsUSA for giving her an understanding and awareness of the opportunities that are there for her.”
Another student, Alyssa, whom Conway recalls meeting at Lowe’s recent National Signing Day event, recently graduated and committed to a full-time job as an entry-level carpenter on signing day.
“It was just inspiring to meet Alyssa and to hear about her career goals and how she was able to find her passion,” Conway says. “She talked about having the expertise to create beautiful homes and safe spaces for people to live, work and enjoy. That stayed with me. I am excited to see what happens and where she goes in the future. I know her future is bright.”
Conway encourages those interested to reach out to their local SkillsUSA chapter or consider creating one. “Connect with local schools to see who would be interested and then work with SkillsUSA,” she says. “They have a whole toolkit available. The programs are such a great way of exposing youth to opportunities in the field that they may not have ever considered. And from an employer standpoint, supporting programs like SkillsUSA is just one of many ways that we’ll be able to recruit people into this wonderful career path.”
The SkillsUSA Championships are held every June in Atlanta. For more information, visit skillsusa.org and for more on the Lowe’s Foundation, visit Lowes.com/foundation.
