JACKSONVILLE, Fla \u2014 Florida State College at Jacksonville says it\u2019s receiving a two-year Gable Grant from the Lowe\u2019s Foundation to \u201chelp solve America\u2019s critical skilled trade worker shortage.\u201d The college is one of 12 community and technical colleges selected to receive the grant.<\/p>\n
FSCJ says the $390,000 grant will help “strengthen communities and improve access for aspiring electricians, construction professionals and HVAC technicians through training at community sites.” The grant will also help recruit instructors, and fund educational materials, spaces, and equipment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks to the Lowe\u2019s Foundation Gable Grant, FSCJ will transform access to high-demand careers through an innovative construction training initiative called \u2018EmpowerEd by Lowe\u2019s,\u2019 which was developed to bring educational and training opportunities directly to those who need it most,\u201d says FSCJ President Dr. John Avendano. \u201cThis program is more than job training and workforce development; it\u2019s an opportunity to restore lives while also strengthening our community both now and far into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCollectively, we are writing a comeback story for the skilled trades industry,\u201d says Janice Dupr\u00e9, Lowe\u2019s executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe\u2019s Foundation. \u201cThrough our Gable Grants network, these schools join a community of innovators helping one another effectively recruit, train and employ the people America needs to revitalize our infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lowe\u2019s says since the start of the Gable Grants program in 2023, the foundation invested $43 million across 28 states. Lowe\u2019s adds that the grants are part of a five-year, $50 million commitment to help community and technical colleges recruit, train, and prepare 50,000 trade workers in carpentry and construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and property maintenance.<\/p>\n