WILKESBORO — The Lowe’s Foundation awarded $500,000 to Wilkes Community College as a part of a select group of community and technical colleges receiving Gable Grants. Since awarding its first grants one year ago, the foundation has assisted in expanding skilled trades career pathways through its growing network of 35 community colleges and nonprofits in rural and urban communities across 27 states.
Wilkes Community College will address the local housing shortage by enhancing its residential Building Construction Technology program. It will also introduce an Electrical Systems diploma this fall and expand lab space to increase student capacity.
“With enrollments rising at vocationally focused schools, these community colleges are blossoming arenas for entrepreneurship and economic mobility,” said Janice Dupré, Lowe's executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe’s Foundation. “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.”
Wilkes Community College President, Dr. Mike Rogers said,” Wilkes Community College is honored to be selected as a Lowe's Gable grant recipient and deeply appreciates the continued partnership with Lowe’s. This generous support allows us to continue the mission of impacting our stakeholders with excellent educational opportunities, meeting the students where they are, and moving them toward success with their educational goals.”
From funding new skilled trades facilities and instructors to accreditation programs, the grants will support carpentry and construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and appliance repair training. These grants build on the foundation’s first cohort of community college Gable Grants announced in 2023 and are the latest in the Lowe’s Foundation’s five-year, $50 million commitment to support the training of 50,000 people for skilled trades careers.
Since 2023, the Lowe’s Foundation has awarded approximately $25 million in Gable Grants to 35 organizations offering innovative and scalable skilled trades training across the U.S.
The next grant application cycle for community-based nonprofits will run from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31. To learn more about the pressing challenges facing the skilled trades, visit Lowes.com/Foundation.
About The Lowe’s Foundation
The Lowe’s Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) organization founded by Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW), is helping develop a community of skilled tradespeople to build and revitalize our homes, neighborhoods and infrastructure for the future. From 2023 through 2027, the Lowe’s Foundation is investing $50 million to help prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers through grants to community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofit organizations and national nonprofit partners with a strong local presence. To learn more about the Lowe's Foundation, visit Lowes.com/Foundation and follow on Instagram, X, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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