Celebration: Lowe's wants to improve '100 Hometowns'
Lowe’s announced that it plans to celebrate its 100th birthday by completing 100 impact projects in communities across the nation this year.
The home improvement retail giant has launched the 100 Hometowns program, which invites people nationwide to nominate a hometown project in need of restoration. The program also asks that people share their hometown stories and help demonstrate the possibility all neighborhoods hold.
Lowe's said it will award 100 grants in June to help recipients complete projects to build, repair, beautify, inspire and improve 100 communities. The projects are expected to be completed this year.
"For generations, serving the community has been a core part of Lowe's culture and values," said Marvin Ellison, Lowe's president and CEO. "In approaching our centennial and particularly in the wake of such a challenging period for our country, we decided to commemorate this milestone by taking on 100 community improvement projects, with local associate volunteers lending a hand across the nation.”
The Moorseville, N.C.-based company is partnering with former Lowe's associate and award-winning country music star Kane Brown to kick off the program by going back to his hometown of Chattanooga, Tenn. Kane once practiced singing while serving as a customer service associate at the Hixson, Tenn., Lowe's location.
"My community in Chattanooga has always been there for me, and I'm so excited to give back to my hometown this summer with Lowe's," said Brown.
Kane and Lowe’s plan to make renovations and repairs that will help the East Lake Boys & Girls Club.
“This club is incredibly special – despite facing many challenges in 2020 due to COVID, they still found meaningful ways to support and uplift kids and families during an incredibly difficult time for everyone,” Brown said.
Over the last 100 years, Lowe's said that it has grown from a small-town hardware store in North Carolina to one of the largest home improvement retailers in the world.
The retailer said that its heritage puts the people in a community at the heart of everything it does. This includes support of rebuilding communities in the wake of natural disasters to its commitment to small businesses during the pandemic.
“We believe in the power of possibility and have an unwavering commitment to making homes better for all, now and for the next 100 years," Ellison said.
Eligible projects include community spaces such as parks, senior citizen or youth centers, neighborhood housing, cultural preservation, and area revitalization.
More details and the nomination form for 100 Hometowns are available here. The nomination process is open from March 9 through April 19.
Lowe's will announce the grant recipients in June 2021 with projects expected to be completed by the end of 2021.