FSCJ Receives Grant from Lowe’s Foundation for Skilled Trades

Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is honored to be a recipient of a two-year Gable Grant from the Lowe’s Foundation to help solve America’s critical skilled trades worker shortage. The funding expands the foundation’s nationwide network of Gable Grants recipients to 60 organizations, each delivering scalable pathways into high-demand trades careers.

The $390,000 grant award will help FSCJ strengthen communities and improve access for aspiring electricians, construction professionals and HVAC technicians through training at community sites. The grant will also support the recruitment of skilled instructors and fund educational materials, spaces and equipment, addressing workforce needs for large construction projects throughout the service area.

“Thanks to the Lowe's Foundation Gable Grant, FSCJ will transform access to high-demand careers through an innovative construction training initiative called ‘EmpowerEd by Lowe's,’ which was developed to bring educational and training opportunities directly to those who need it most,” said College President John Avendano, Ph.D. “This program is more than job training and workforce development; it’s an opportunity to restore lives while also strengthening our community both now and far into the future.”

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.

“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.”

Since launching the Gable Grants program in 2023, the foundation has invested $43 million across 28 states. The grants are part of a five-year, $50 million commitment to help community and technical colleges and nonprofits recruit, train and prepare 50,000 trades professionals across carpentry and construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and property maintenance.

To see the list of additional grant recipients, read the Lowe’s Foundation press release here: https://www.lowesfoundation.org/news/lowes-foundation-investment-solving-skilled-trades-labor-shortage-grows-43-million