Houston City College received a $1 million grant from the Lowe’s Foundation to support high-demand skilled trade careers in the Greater Houston area, officials announced in a July 29 news release.
The gist
The grant—which is expected to prepare 400 new HCC students for high-demand trades—comes as the nation faces a growing shortage of skilled trade workers with an estimated 2.1 million vacant jobs by 2030, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The unfilled roles could result in an annual $1 trillion economic loss.
The program, which will be based at the HCC Southeast campus, will enhance the college’s training programs in electrical, carpentry, construction, HVAC and plumbing as well as student scholarships, per the release.
In their own words
HCC Southeast President Frances Villagran-Glover said the funding will also help students pay for tools, personal protective equipment and other necessities for their training and certification.
“This investment removes barriers that too often stand between students and the workforce training they need to succeed,” Villagran-Glover said. “It will also extend the reach of our Mobile Go Unit, allowing us to connect more residents with training opportunities that lead to in-demand careers.”
In case you missed it
Houston City College also received a $17 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies to launch Gulf Coast TradeUp Careers, a program aimed at providing free training in skilled trades and connecting students with paid apprenticeship opportunities.
The program, which is slated to begin in August, is set to serve 1,350 students over three years.
