With the U.S. facing a critical shortage of skilled trades workers, the Lowe’s Foundation has expanded its commitment to help train and develop 250,000 tradespeople by 2035. As part of its support, the home improvement retailer’s foundation will make a $250 million commitment through its Gable Grants program, which provides funds to nonprofits and community colleges nationwide.
The additional investment follows the success of Lowe’s 2023 announcement of a $50 million, five-year commitment to skilled trades training. Since then, nearly $53 million has been invested in 65 organizations, putting the foundation on track to help prepare 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,” said Marvin Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Lowe’s in a statement. “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.”
TV Series Spotlights Aspiring Tradespeople
In March 2025 Lowe’s awarded $9 million in Gable Grants to strengthen 15 nonprofits helping prepare people for work in the trades. The grants support community colleges such as the Columbus Technical College in Columbus, Ga. and people like Cleveland Roberts, who completed the college’s carpentry program and won the gold medal for cabinetmaking at the state SkillsUSA competition in 2024. A third-generation tradesperson and entrepreneur, Robers owns CR Woodworx, a residential remodeling and repair business.
“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,” said Roberts in a statement.
Roberts’ story is featured along 12 aspiring tradespeople and their mentors in Building Back America’s Trades, a new three-part series produced by the Lowe’s Foundation, premiering on Magnolia Network on April 11 and the next day on HBO Max and discovery+. Each participant is connected to innovative skilled trades training programs at Columbus Technical College, Coconino Community College in Arizona and She Built This City in North Carolina.
Connecting Job-Seekers with Career Opportunities
In addition to attempting to reach the goal of training 250,000 tradespeople over the coming decade, the Lowe’s Foundation also wants to help them find jobs once they are trained. The retailer is expanding its partnership with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)’s CareerStarter platform, which connects students and job seekers directly with educators, employers and career opportunities.
Separately, the Lowe’s Foundation is expanding its training focus to include opportunity youth — people ages 16 to 24 who are not currently in school of employed but have the potential to connect to skilled trades opportunities.
