Palm Beach State College receives an additional $500,000 from the Lowe’s Foundation for skilled trades workforce development

Palm Beach State College has received an additional $500,000 from The Lowe’s Foundation as part of a select group of 12 community and technical colleges receiving Gable Grants during the 2025 award cycle.

This is PBSC’s second Gable Grant to help expand its construction trades programs and add a simulation lab. The initial grant of $1 million was awarded in 2023.

PBSC used those funds to create four portable classrooms/outreach vehicles where training simulates construction jobsite conditions, providing real-world experience for students. The new Gable Grant will complement these mobile units and enable PBSC to expand its HVAC and electrical training to include students on its Palm Beach Gardens campus as well as residents in rural and underserved communities across Palm Beach County.

"On behalf of our entire college community, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to the Lowe’s Foundation for their continued investment in our trades programs,” said PBSC President Ava L. Parker, J.D. “This new grant significantly enhances our ability to equip students with the hands-on skills that are in high demand across our region and the nation."

This support comes 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. PBSC aims to contribute 1,500 new skilled trades graduates to the local workforce by 2028.

“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.”

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. For more information, visit www.lowesfoundation.org.