Midlands Tech awarded $1M grant to expand construction program in fast-growing SC

Midlands Technical College will expand its construction trades program with a $1 million grant from the Lowe's Foundation. (Midlands Tech/Provided)

COLUMBIA — Midlands Technical College will expand its construction trades program with a $1 million grant, the largest single corporate gift in the school’s history.

The grant to Midlands Tech is one of 35 awarded by the Lowe’s Foundation since the company’s nonprofit arm started its Gable Grants program last year in an effort to train more workers in skilled trades.

In all, the home improvement store’s foundation has given out $25 million with plans to double that over the next four years.

“With enrollments rising at vocationally focused schools, these community colleges are blossoming arenas for entrepreneurship and economic mobility,” Janice Dupre, Lowe’s executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe’s Foundation, said in a statement. “Each college has a clear, inspired vision for closing the trades gap in its community, and we’re pleased to welcome them to our larger movement.”

The gift comes at a time of great need.

South Carolina was the fastest-growing state in the nation in 2023, with population growth of 1.7% , according to U.S. Census data. Workers built nearly 42,500 housing units in the state, from single family homes to apartments, over that same time period.

Construction industry employment in the state was up nearly 4% last month compared to June 2023, an increase of about 4,300 workers.

Meanwhile, there were upwards of 4,000 advertised job openings in various construction trades last month, according to data provided by the state Department of Employment and Workforce.

“There is significant demand for well-prepared building construction program graduates, and through this partnership with Lowe’s, we are addressing a critical workforce shortage here in the Midlands of South Carolina,” Robbie Sharpe, Midland Tech’s building construction technology program director, said in a statement.

Midlands Tech said it will use the funding to build out a new training space on its Airport Campus in West Columbia and update tools and equipment, allowing the college to double its teaching capacity.

The technical college with campuses in Richland, Lexington and Fairfield counties is the only one of South Carolina’s 16 technical colleges to receive a Lowe’s Foundation grant.