‘Level up’ with Lowe’s Gable Grants
The Lowe’s Foundation announced a total of $3 million in Gable Grants to three national nonprofit organizations that are delivering innovative and scalable skilled trades training in local communities nationwide.
The retailer said the $1 million grants are being awarded to Goodwill Industries International; the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC); and the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).
“These programs, paired with the grants to community and technical colleges announced this summer, are a critical step as the Lowe’s Foundation continues to help build a sustainable infrastructure of innovative skilled trades programs across our communities,” said Janice Dupré, Lowe’s executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe’s Foundation.
These grants bring Lowe’s Foundation’s total support for skilled trades workforce development to nearly $11 million in 2023 as part of five-year, $50 million commitment, said the company.
The grants will fund programs that prepare more individuals for skilled trades careers, including providing accelerated training, coaching, wraparound services and targeted workforce development in communities impacted by natural disasters.
Goodwill will use the funding to support the Goodwill Opportunity Accelerator, a workforce development program that provides holistic wraparound services to help participants from any background develop foundational digital and job-ready skills and pursue a pathway into an in-demand industry position.
“The critical support provided by Gable Grants will help us leverage the Goodwill Opportunity Accelerator, our holistic workforce delivery model. This will increase access to skilled trades training and help dedicated tradespeople connect with employers who need them,” said Martin Scaglione, chief mission officer of Goodwill Industries International.
LISC will fund 12 partners that offer industry-specific training, financial coaching, income support access and wraparound services to skilled trades job seekers in local communities.
“We know that building bridges between workers and potential employers at the community level, combined with culturally relevant training and coaching support, is a highly effective model,” said Michael T. Pugh, LISC CEO.
NCCER will expand its Community Construction Academies to underserved individuals in response to community and workforce needs. These boot camp-style training programs will build upon a successful tuition-free, rapid recovery construction training pilot funded by Lowe’s last fall to help rebuild Southwest Florida communities after Hurricane Ian.
“We see an opportunity to engage and train individuals to help with rebuilding efforts locally and provide opportunities for fulfilling careers in construction that can last a lifetime,” said Boyd Worsham, president and CEO of NCCER.
“Each of these organizations brings something different to the table through their robust network of skilled trades training programs and a strong local and national presence,” said Dupré.
