Lowe’s Foundation Invests Over $10 Million in Nonprofits to Expand and Scale Skilled Trades Training
As American infrastructure investments and housing needs continue to rise, the Lowe’s Foundation today committed more than $10 million in Gable Grants to help prepare the next generation of trades professionals. The funding will equip 15 community-based and national nonprofits with new resources to expand hands-on training, industry-recognized credentials and connections to employers.
“These nonprofits are working around the clock to connect people with life-changing careers, and their recruitment and training programs are critical to helping us maximize the impact of our growing workforce movement,” said Janice Dupré, Lowe’s executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe’s Foundation. “Investments in organizations like these are investments in the future of our country’s economy, resilience and global competitiveness at an urgent moment for America.”
Since launching the Gable Grants program in 2023, the Lowe’s Foundation has invested nearly $53 million in 65 nonprofits and community colleges across the country to help build more pathways into high-demand careers. These grants support training across carpentry and construction, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and property maintenance.
New Gable Grants support the following community-based nonprofits:
Building Futures (Providence, Rhode Island) will expand access to construction careers through its nationally recognized pre-apprenticeship programs. Funding will help modernize the nonprofit’s training lab, increase capacity and sustain a reentry initiative that prepares hundreds of low-income and second-chance pre-apprentices for rewarding careers.
Flintridge Center (Pasadena, California) will enhance two pre-apprenticeship programs that offer 240 hours of free training and certifications in Multi-Craft Core Curriculum, OSHA-10 and more. Funding will improve facilities, new equipment and job placement with wraparound services primarily for second-chance learners.
Florida Trade Academy (Tampa, Florida) will use its second Gable Grant to scale its transition pre-apprenticeship programs across rural and low-to-moderate income communities. Funding will provide National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) accredited training, behavioral assessments and job placement support for participants (ages 16–26) in high-demand trades.
Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont (Charlotte) will use its second Gable Grant to continue scaling its Construction Skills Training program. Funding will support NCCER-certified training in carpentry, electrical, HVAC, Building Automation Systems and Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician programs, including the development of soft skills to help participants move forward in their careers.
Positive Workforce (New York) will use its second Gable Grant to provide hands-on construction training and job placement, primarily for women and second-chance learners. Funding will support plumbing, carpentry, electrical, HVAC and appliance repair programs with wraparound services, including mentoring and soft skills training.
Revolution Workshop (Chicago) offers a 12-week pre-apprenticeship training program for aspiring construction, electrical, plumbing and HVAC professionals. Funding will support participants who receive stipends, tools and long-term career coaching on the way to registered apprenticeships and jobs through 300 employer partners across the region.
SERJobs (Houston) will expand skilled trades training for individuals across Houston through new employer-aligned curricula and wraparound services. The nonprofit integrates virtual reality simulations and hands-on training to strengthen HVAC, construction, and electrical pathways, accelerating job-ready outcomes.
She Built This City (Charlotte) will use its second Gable Grant to primarily empower women and marginalized communities to pursue careers in the skilled trades. Funding will help upfit a donated building into the She Built This City Entrepreneurial Hub that will focus on entrepreneurship, education, pre-apprenticeship programs and youth outreach.
Skillpoint Alliance (Austin, Texas) will expand its rapid employment model offering industry-recognized certifications, hands-on training and direct employer connections over four and five-week courses. Funding will support the nonprofit’s growth in Austin, New Braunfels, Seguin and the Permian Basin, as well as expansion into San Antonio, increasing program capacity and connecting more Texans to family-sustaining trades careers.
The Master’s Apprentice (Denver) will use its second Gable Grant to provide tuition-free pre-apprenticeship training and a new lab for green energy training, which includes heat pumps, solar, energy storage, EV charging and geothermal systems. It will also introduce an Energy Technician pathway to integrate electrical, plumbing and HVAC skills.
West Virginia Women Work (Morgantown, West Virginia) will expand its Step Up HUB model into a statewide “spoke and hub” system to bring a mobile training unit into rural and underserved communities. Funding will support outreach teams, portable simulators and credential-based boot camps to strengthen West Virginia’s workforce pipeline.
The Lowe’s Foundation has renewed partnerships with the following national nonprofits:
Goodwill Industries International will strengthen its skilled trades programs through clean technology pathways. Funding will support training, wraparound services and job placement in appliance repair, carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, solar installation and EV charging maintenance.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will embed AI curriculum in programs to emphasize safety and critical thinking through real-world workplace applications. LISC will also establish a Pre-Apprenticeships+ Accelerator to support students with financial coaching and career advancement and wraparound services to build long-term pathways into the skilled trades.
NCCER will expand Community Construction Academies to reach new adult learners through its partnership with the Coalition on Adult and Basic Education. This model offers free training and industry-recognized credentials, including OSHA-10, and craft modules in carpentry, plumbing, HVACR, masonry and electrical disciplines. Lowe’s Foundation is also sponsoring NCCER’s CareerStarter platform, a free service that connects students and job seekers directly with educators, employers and career opportunities.
SkillsUSA will expand skilled trades career pathways through the 2026 National Leadership & Skills Conference and national credentialing programs to engage high school seniors and postsecondary students. This program provides hands-on experience, industry connections and recognized certifications in carpentry, plumbing, electrical and HVAC, preparing students for workforce success.
The next Gable Grants application cycle for community and technical colleges will run from March 1 to March 31. To learn more about eligibility guidelines and apply, visit LowesFoundation.org.
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About The Lowe’s Foundation
The Lowe’s Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) organization founded by Lowe’s, is solving the critical skilled trades labor shortage and helping fulfill dreams for the next generation of Pros. From 2023 through 2028, the Lowe’s Foundation is committed to helping prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers through grants to community and technical colleges and nonprofit organizations with a strong local presence. To learn more about the Lowe’s Foundation, visit LowesFoundation.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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