The Lowe’s Foundation has awarded a $450,000 Gable Grant to Johnson College, northeastern Pennsylvania’s only two-year career technical college, as one of only 12 community and technical colleges receiving the competitive awards in the United States. Since awarding its first grants in 2023, the foundation has expanded skilled trades career pathways through its growing roster of 60 community colleges and nonprofit organizations across 28 states.
Through expanded training opportunities, this grant is helping Johnson College build the next generation of skilled tradespeople at a time when the industry needs it most. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the skilled labor gap drives a $10 billion annual economic loss in the housing industry, much of which is felt locally.
Johnson College is using the grant to purchase advanced training equipment for its newly expanded heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and electrical construction technology (ECT) laboratory and to update equipment in the carpentry and cabinetmaking technology laboratory on its Scranton campus. Additional equipment will be purchased to expand HVAC and electrical construction labs at Johnson’s satellite campus located in the CAN DO Training Center in Hazle Township.
“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.”
“Support from the Lowe’s Foundation will not only expand our capacity for skilled trades education today, but for the future as well,” said Walter Wood, building trades and technology division chair and HVAC program director at Johnson College. “Our students will receive hands-on training with technology currently being used in the field. This is a tremendous advantage for employers hiring our graduates and raises the overall capabilities of the skilled trades industry across our region.”
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 nationwide. These grants are part of 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.
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 2028, 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 https://www.lowesfoundation.org/ and follow on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Photo Caption:
Nick George, left, and Jake Riebe, students in Johnson College’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technology program, work on a residential hot-water boiler purchased with funds from the $450,000 Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grant awarded to Johnson College, northeastern Pennsylvania’s only two-year career technical college and one of only 12 institutions nationwide to receive the competitive award.