Palm Beach State College recently 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,” PBSC President Ava L. Parker said. “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.
The Lowe’s Foundation is helping develop a community of skilled tradespeople to build and revitalize homes, neighborhoods and infrastructure for the future. To learn more about the foundation, visit www.lowesfoundation.org.
Founded in 1933 as Florida’s first public community college, Palm Beach State College has been an integral player in the growth and prosperity of Palm Beach County. Graduates impact every industry and are community and business leaders. Nearly 40,000 students enroll annually in onsite, online, live online and hybrid classes at five locations in Belle Glade, Boca Raton, Lake Worth, Loxahatchee Groves and Palm Beach Gardens, and through PBSC Online. Learn more at www.pbsc.edu.
