Valencia College announced Tuesday that it’s been awarded a $500,000 grant from The Lowe’s Foundation, and will use the funds to launch a new 10- to 12-week plumbing technical program.
Valencia was one of a select group of community and technical colleges receiving Gable Grants.
“Since awarding its first grants one year ago, the foundation has expanded skilled trades career pathways through its growing network of 35 community colleges and nonprofits in rural and urban communities across 27 states,” a release from the school said.
The award is part of $8 million in Gable Grants awarded to community and technical colleges this week. The new plumbing program is scheduled to begin in February 2025.
Program graduates will earn nationally recognized industry certifications to meet the region’s need for the skilled trade. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the Central Florida region needs more than 3,000 new plumbers each year.
“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.”
“Thanks to the generous support of the Lowe’s Gable Grant, Valencia College will launch a new plumbing program at one of the college’s Centers for Accelerated Training. Learning these skills and earning nationally recognized Industry certifications, graduates of this accelerated skills training program can not only improve their lives, but that of their families and communities as well,” said Joe Battista, vice president of workforce, career and professional education at Valencia College.
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, the school said.
The 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 investment to support the training of 50,000 people for skilled trades careers.
Since 2023, the Lowe’s Foundation has awarded more than $25 million in Gable Grants to 35 schools and organizations offering scalable skilled trades training across the U.S.
The next Gable Grant application cycle for community-based nonprofits will run from Aug. 1-31. To learn more about the pressing challenges facing the skilled trades, visit Lowes.com/ Foundation.
