Lowe’s Foundation Investment in Solving Skilled Trades Labor Shortage Grows to $43 Million
12 New Colleges Join Gable Grants Program to Strengthen Industry Workforce
The Lowe’s Foundation has expanded its nationwide Gable Grants initiative with the addition of 12 new community and technical colleges, bringing its total investment to $43 million across 60 institutions in 28 states. The grants are aimed at tackling the skilled labor shortage by creating scalable, hands-on training pathways in high-demand fields such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and construction.
Launched in 2023, the Gable Grants program is part of Lowe’s five-year, $50 million commitment to recruit and train 50,000 skilled trades professionals. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the U.S. housing sector loses $10 billion annually due to skilled labor shortages—making these grants a timely and impactful solution for the building and home improvement industries.
“Through our Gable Grants network, these schools are helping one another recruit, train, and employ the people America needs to revitalize our infrastructure,” said Janice Dupré, EVP of Human Resources and Chair of the Lowe’s Foundation.
12 New Colleges Join Gable Grants Program to Strengthen Industry Workforce
New 2025 Gable Grant Recipients:
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Blue Ridge Community College (NC) – Expanding apprenticeships tied to hurricane recovery.
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Cape Fear Community College (NC) – Launching trades programs with VR training at correctional and adult education centers.
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Community College of Rhode Island – Adding lab capacity and developing a construction management degree pathway.
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Florida State College at Jacksonville – Providing trades training to support major infrastructure projects in Jacksonville.
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Los Angeles Community College District – Enhancing construction curriculum focused on post-wildfire recovery.
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Germanna Community College (VA) – Deploying mobile training units to rural and underserved areas.
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Ivy Tech Community College (IN) – Launching a new Building & Property Maintenance program across 19 campuses.
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J.F. Ingram State Technical College (AL) – Training incarcerated individuals for reentry into electrical trades.
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Johnson College of Technology (PA) – Expanding HVAC and electrical programs across two campuses.
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Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College – Doubling electrical training capacity through evening programs.
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Palm Beach State College (FL) – Adding simulation labs and mobile units to broaden trades education access.
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Texas State Technical College – Equipping a 130,000 sq. ft. Construction Technology Center and supporting students with tool stipends.
The next round of Gable Grant applications—open to community-based nonprofit organizations—runs from August 1 to 31 and is invitation-only.
To learn more about eligibility, training programs, and the trades career pipeline, visit LowesFoundation.org.
About The Lowe’s Foundation
The Lowe’s Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) organization founded by Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW), is helping develop a community of skilled tradespeople to build and revitalize our homes, neighborhoods and infrastructure for the future. From 2023 through 2028, the Lowe’s Foundation is investing $50 million to help prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers through grants to community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofit organizations and national nonprofit partners with a strong local presence. To learn more about the Lowe’s Foundation, visit LowesFoundation.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
