Lowe’s Foundation boosts skilled trades training to $250 million

Lowe’s Companies Inc., led by one of the world’s highest-ranking Black CEOs, Marvin Ellison, has unveiled plans to commit $250 million to train 250,000 skilled tradespeople across the United States by 2035.

The funding, deployed through the Lowe’s Foundation’s Gable Grants program, marks a fivefold increase from its earlier workforce pledge and comes amid a deepening labor shortage in construction and related trades.

Tackling a widening labor gap
The expanded investment follows strong early momentum from the foundation’s initial $50 million commitment announced in 2023. Since then, nearly $53 million has already been invested in 65 nonprofits and community colleges, putting the initiative on track to meet its original 50,000-worker target by 2027, one year ahead of schedule.

Industry demand remains acute. The Associated Builders and Contractors estimates that 349,000 new construction workers are needed this year alone to meet growing infrastructure and housing needs.

Ellison, who also co-champions the Business Roundtable’s Skilled Trades for America initiative, said the effort has grown faster than anticipated, stressing that “no single organization can do this alone” as the U.S. works to close its workforce gap.

Expanding access and opportunity
To scale toward its 250,000 target, the foundation is deepening partnerships with community colleges and nonprofits nationwide, aiming to increase training capacity, reduce barriers to entry, and improve job placement outcomes.

A key pillar of the strategy includes expanding collaboration with the National Center for Construction Education and Research to enhance its CareerStarter platform, which connects students and job seekers with training and employment opportunities.

The initiative is also widening its reach to “opportunity youth,” young people aged 16 to 24 who are not in school or employment, helping them transition into sustainable careers in the trades.

Building momentum through education and storytelling
Lowe’s, a Fortune 50 home improvement company, operates over 1,700 stores and employs roughly 300,000 associates. As of May 3, 2024, the company had 1,746 stores encompassing 194.9 million square feet of retail space. Beyond funding, the foundation is fostering a national learning network among grant recipients to accelerate best practices, from credentialing to instructor recruitment.

It is also amplifying awareness through “Building Back America’s Trades,” a new three-part series showcasing aspiring tradespeople and mentors. The series will premiere on Magnolia Network and stream on HBO Max and discovery+.

The initiative underscores Lowe’s broader push to address one of the U.S. economy’s most pressing bottlenecks: the shortage of skilled labor. By significantly scaling its investment, the company is positioning itself at the center of efforts to rebuild the trades workforce and expand economic mobility nationwide.