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Houston City College has received a $1 million Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grant to expand skilled trades training in Greater Houston. The Houston City College Lowe’s Foundation grant is expected to help prepare 400 new students for careers in high-demand fields.
HCC was selected as one of only 10 community colleges nationwide to receive the grant. The funding will support training in electrical, carpentry, construction, HVAC and plumbing programs.
Houston City College Lowe’s Foundation Grant Supports Skilled Trades
The grant will enhance HCC programs tied to high-demand, high-wage careers. It will also provide scholarships to help students access workforce training.
The program will be anchored at HCC Southeast. College leaders said the investment will help students enter fields that remain critical to Houston’s growth.
“This investment will allow us to expand access to life-changing career opportunities, train hundreds of skilled trades professionals, and help meet workforce demand driven by Houston’s continued growth in construction and infrastructure,” said Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D.
The grant also places HCC among a national group of institutions recognized for workforce development and industry partnerships.
Funding Will Help Remove Barriers For Students
HCC Southeast President Frances Villagran-Glover, D.A., said the grant will help students move from training into the workforce.
“This investment removes barriers that too often stand between students and the workforce training they need to succeed,” Villagran-Glover said. “In addition to expanding our skilled trades programs, this grant will help students access certification assistance, tools, personal protective equipment and other support services.”
She said the funding will also extend the reach of HCC’s Mobile Go Unit. The unit connects residents with training opportunities that lead to in-demand careers.
For many students, costs beyond tuition can make it harder to complete training. Tools, safety equipment and certification fees can add financial pressure. HCC officials said the grant will help address those needs.
Grant Responds To Skilled Trades Shortage
The Lowe’s Foundation announced the grants as the country faces a growing shortage of skilled trades workers. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that 2.1 million skilled trades jobs could go unfilled by 2030.
That shortage could lead to economic losses of as much as $1 trillion each year. The Lowe’s Foundation is working to address the issue through investments in education and workforce training.
“Over the past three years, the Lowe’s Foundation has built a national flywheel that is connecting educators, workforce organizations and community partners and strengthening the skilled trades workforce,” said Janice Dupre, Lowe’s executive vice president of human resources and president and chair of the Lowe’s Foundation.
“Funding is just one part of the equation; our greatest impact comes from bringing the entire ecosystem together,” Dupre said.
HCC Continues Workforce Training Mission
The investment supports HCC’s mission to provide accessible and affordable education. It also helps the college respond directly to workforce needs in the region.
HCC is one of the nation’s largest community colleges, with enrollment recently topping 100,000 students. The college offers bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, certificates, workforce training and lifelong learning opportunities.
HCC also works with employers to align curriculum with industry demand. That approach helps graduates prepare for jobs in fields where workers are needed.
The new grant will expand those efforts at a time when skilled trades remain essential to Houston’s construction and infrastructure growth. For students across Greater Houston, the funding creates another pathway into stable, in-demand careers.