WARWICK, RI – The Lowe’s Foundation awarded $1 million to the Community College of Rhode Island as part of a select group of community and technical colleges receiving Gable Grants. Since awarding its first grants in 2023, the foundation has expanded skilled trades career pathways through its growing roster of funded partners of 60 community colleges and nonprofit organizations across 28 states.

Through expanded training, grants to this cohort will help build the next generation of skilled tradespeople at a time when the industry needs it the most. According to the National Association of Homebuilders, the skilled labor gap drives a $10 billion annual economic loss in the housing industry.

Community College of Rhode Island will expand its Electrical Apprenticeship and Ready to Build programs to address the growing demand for skilled trades professionals. The school will establish two state-of-the-art lab spaces to increase enrollment capacity and develop a credit-bearing academic pathway that integrates into a new construction management certificate and degree program.

“Collectively, we are writing a comeback story for the skilled trades industry,” said Janice Dupré, Lowe's executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe’s Foundation. “Through 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.”

"Being chosen by the Lowe’s Foundation is an extraordinary recognition of CCRI’s commitment to building strong career pathways in the skilled trades,” said Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., RN, President of the Community College of Rhode Island. “With this investment, we will equip our students with the tools and technology they need to thrive -- and help meet Rhode Island’s growing demand for a highly trained workforce.”

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 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 $43 million in Gable Grants to help educate and advocate for the next generation of skilled tradespeople. The grants support training programs focusing on carpentry and construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and property maintenance.

The application cycle for community-based nonprofit organizations will be open in August and is by invitation only. Interested organizations should email [email protected] for application information.

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 www.lowesfoundation.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About CCRI:
With a passionate commitment to students, CCRI provides Rhode Islanders with an outstanding college education that leads to strong learning outcomes, successful postsecondary credential attainment, and robust labor market outcomes. With four campuses across Rhode Island, CCRI offers online, hybrid, and in-person options for students, meeting them where they are and helping them achieve their educational and career goals. For more information, please visit ccri.edu.