WEST PALM BEACH — The Lowe’s Foundation will present Palm Beach State College (PBSC) with a $1 million grant to support the school’s innovative skilled trades training program on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 9:30 a.m. The grant is one of nearly $8 million in Gable Grants from the Lowe’s Foundation awarded to 11 schools across the country as part of its larger five-year, $50 million commitment to help prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers. The Lowe’s Foundation also recently announced a new round of Gable Grants national nonprofit partners including Goodwill, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).

Palm Beach State College will expand its Construction Trade Center for Workforce Innovation to provide simulated trainings that create “real world” experiences for students entering the trades workforce. Designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2015, the college provides smart home and office suites that serve as working labs for students to learn trades and installation practices.

Lowe’s is partnering with Klein Tools, the No. 1 hand tool brand among electrical and HVAC professionals, to outfit its training labs with HVAC and electrical tools and equipment. The students will have high-quality professional tools for hands-on training in their respective programs. Andrea O’Connell, electrician and social influencer, will speak with PBSC students to share expert advice and insights on cultivating a rewarding career in the skilled trades industry.

One of the fastest-growing industries in Palm Beach County, construction accounts for more than 50,000 jobs and $3 billion in income, thanks to the continued influx of new businesses and residents into the county. Additionally, with 30% of construction workers in Palm Beach County expected to retire or leave the industry within the next decade, there will be an increased need for skilled tradespeople to replace them, according to Lightcast Economic Modeling. PBSC aims to plug that gap by contributing 1,500 new skilled construction tradespeople to the county’s workforce by 2025.

Representatives of both Lowe’s Foundation and Palm Beach State College will be on-site for interviews. Spanish-speaking representatives from Lowe’s Foundation, PBSC staff, and students are also available. PBSC currently offers Spanish as well as English language HVAC training.

Attendees include:

Gerardo Soto, Lowe’s Foundation board member and Lowe’s vice president of pro-brand marketing

Betsy Conway, Lowe’s Foundation director

Palm Beach State College (PBSC) President Ava L. Parker, J.D.

PBSC Vice-President of Academic Affairs Tunjarnika Coleman-Ferrell, Ed.D.

PBSC Dean of Workforce Education and Development Kim Lea

PBSC Associate Dean of Trade and Industry Eligio Marquez

Mayor of Palm Beach Gardens Chelsea Reed

Vice-Mayor of Loxahatchee Groves Robert Shorr

Palm Beach County Commissioner Shalonda Warren

Palm Beach County Commissioner Michael Barnett

Representatives from the offices of Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL)

Andrea O’Connell, Electrical TikTok and Instagram Influencer