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The Lowe’s Foundation recently announced an expanded $250 million commitment to help train and develop 250,000 tradespeople by 2035 through its Gable Grants program. The announcement comes as Associated Builders and Contractors estimates that 349,000 net new construction are needed to meet demand this year alone.
The new goal builds on the foundation’s $50 million, five-year commitment announced in 2023. The program is on track to train 50,000 tradespeople by 2027, a full year ahead of its original goal.
“Three years ago, we set out to lead an ambitious workforce movement in a pivotal moment—and it’s taken off faster than we imagined,” says Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s chairman and CEO and co-champion of the Business Roundtable “Skilled Trades for America” initiative. “American prosperity is at stake, and we are partnering to solve the workforce gap with a growing force of educators, employers and policymakers who understand local needs. No single organization can do this alone.”
The foundation is increasing its investment and focus on expanding partnerships with nonprofits and community colleges nationwide and growing its partnership with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) to enhance its CareerStarter platform, a free service that connects students and job seekers directly with educators, employers and career opportunities.
The Lowe’s Foundation’s Gable Grants program supports community colleges like Columbus Technical College in Georgia and people like Cleveland Roberts, who completed its carpentry program and won the gold medal for cabinetmaking at the state SkillsUSA competition in 2024. As a third-generation tradesperson and entrepreneur, Roberts owns CR Woodworx, a residential remodeling and repair business in Columbus.
“Skilled trades training gave me more than a job; it gave me upward mobility and the confidence to build something for myself and my community,” Roberts says. “Columbus Tech’s carpentry and cabinetmaking program has shown me what’s possible when people are given access to career pathways with a tangible, real-world impact.”
