Germanna Community College will use a $350,000 grant from the Lowe’s Foundation to help boost a struggling work force.
According to a recent release from the college, nearly 98% of construction firms in the state are having trouble finding qualified employees.
The grant will aid in building and deploying mobile training units to rural communities, public schools and correctional facilities.
Gray
“We are incredibly honored and excited to receive the Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grant,” stated Shashuna Gray, vice president of academic affairs and workforce development at Germanna. “This generous support empowers us to expand life-changing training opportunities in skilled trades and make a lasting impact in our community.”
The Gable Grants program is a $50 million commitment over five years, started in 2023, that directly supports technical colleges and community-based nonprofit organizations to recruit, train and prepare 50,000 new job-ready tradespeople to help fill the skilled trades gap.
The Lowe’s Foundation has awarded $7 million in strategic grants to 12 community colleges across the country to enhance skilled trades education. These institutions will use the funding to expand programs in high-demand fields critical to local economies and increasingly reliant on technical, job-ready graduates.
Germanna Community College has trained over 3,500 students in 2025, the most among Virginia schools awarding skilled trades credentials.
