Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has been selected as the recipient of a $700,000 grant from the Lowe’s Foundation to support the college’s skilled trade education programs.
The Gable Grant comes from the Lowe’s Foundation, which is the philanthropical wing of the home improvement company, and aligns with the foundation’s national effort to close the skilled labor gap through strategic partnerships with community and technical colleges.
MGCCC is one of 12 institutions nationwide awarded a 2025 Gable Grant. The foundation announced its latest round of funding Monday, bringing its total Gable Grant investment to $43 million across 28 states.
“Collectively, we are writing a comeback story for the skilled trades industry,” said Janice Dupre, Lowe’s executive vice president of Human Resources and chair of the company’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.”
The $700,000 reward marks the second grant MGCCC has received from the Lowe’s Foundation in three years. In 2023, the college was awarded $1 million to expand technical training and launch a commercial and residential construction technology program, which equips students with industry credentials and skills in carpentry, plumbing, and masonry.
Building on success from the first grant, MGCC will use the new round of funding to support:
- The launch of evening electric technology courses to create a stronger apprenticeship program
- Full-time faculty positions in construction management and electrical technology
- A construction skills lab and maker space at the Harrison County campus for hands-on learning and innovation
- Scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000 to remove financial barriers for students entering skilled trades programs
“This continued partnership with the Lowe’s Foundation is a powerful endorsement of the work we’re doing to meet the growing demand for skilled trades professionals,” said Dr. Jonathan Woodward, vice president of teaching and learning at MGCCC. “We’re not only training students for today’s workforce, [but] we’re preparing them to lead and innovate in the workforce of the future.”
The grant will also be used to strengthen programs such as construction management, drafting and design technology, HVAC technology, and internet of things.
According to the National Association of Homebuilders, the skilled labor gap currently being seen across the U.S. results in a $10 billion annual loss. With nearly one million construction and management jobs unfilled nationwide, MGCCC is working to provide solutions for the industry.
