The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (MCCF) have been selected as one of 11 community and technical colleges receiving Lowe’s Foundation Gable Grants nationwide. The district, in partnership with MCCF, will receive $1 million in funding to support construction trades programs at Mesa Community College (MCC), South Mountain Community College (SMCC), and Rio Salado College (RSC).
“Maricopa Community Colleges have a rich history of training skilled workers, many of whom join our local workforce and contribute to the region’s growing economy,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, MCCCD Chancellor. “Thanks to generous support from the Lowe’s Foundation, we have an opportunity to enhance our existing program offerings and provide our students with the highest caliber education, resources, and facilities to ensure they are job-ready.”
“With enrollments rising at vocationally focused schools, these community colleges are blossoming arenas for entrepreneurship and economic mobility,” said Janice Dupré, Lowe's executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe’s Foundation. “Each college has a clear, inspired vision for closing the trades gap in its community, and we’re pleased to welcome them to our larger movement.”
Funding allocation details:
- MCC will receive $483,705.88 in grant funding to hire a part-time lab technician, expand facilities to include an outdoor training space, purchase construction materials and equipment, and optimize outreach efforts through various marketing initiatives. MCC’s Construction Trades program offers year-round start dates and comprehensive training in plumbing, carpentry, electrical systems, and construction management to prepare students for careers as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, foremen, project managers, and construction site managers.
- SMCC will receive $350,280.06 in grant funding to hire additional staff including a part-time faculty member and part-time lab technician, purchase specialized carpentry, electrical, and plumbing materials, and expand marketing and recruitment outreach efforts through events and promotional materials. SMCC offers degree and certificate programs through its Construction Trades Institute, including specialized focus areas such as carpentry, electrical, framing, and plumbing. Students can earn a Certificate of Completion in Construction Trades: Carpentry or Construction Trades: Electrical in just one semester.
- RSC will receive $45,176.00 in grant funding to upgrade infrastructure and lab training space, deliver OSHA training to three instructors, and provide OSHA certifications for an estimated 400 students at the college’s Incarcerated Re-Entry Program at the Perryville and Lewis Prison Complexes. In addition to the college’s certificate programs, RSC partners with the Arizona Department of Corrections to offer occupational training including construction-electrical and plumbing at the Perryville complex.
MCCF will also use funds to provide students with stipends to help cover their cost of attendance.
"The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation is proud to partner with the Lowe's Foundation and MCCCD to expand our construction programs, which are dedicated to meeting the workforce needs of the construction industry through innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to student success,” said Brian F. Spicker, MCCF President and CEO. “By investing in our programs, the Lowe’s Foundation will not only support individual students in pursuing rewarding careers but also contribute to the economic growth and prosperity of the region."
Greater Phoenix has become a top growth market for construction, with no signs of slowing down. According to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, the construction industry is expected to see the highest rate of job growth, 3.3% from 2023 to 2025. By 2031, the state is projected to add 37,000 new construction jobs. As the largest provider of workforce training in the state, MCCCD’s comprehensive construction trades programs provide students with a blend of theoretical, technical, and hands-on instruction needed to succeed in a variety of high-wage, high-demand roles.
Today’s nearly $8 million investment is 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 over $25 million in Gable Grants to expand innovative and scalable skilled trades training across the U.S.
Click here to learn more about this year’s Gable Grant recipients.
To learn more about MCCCD’s construction trades programs visit https://www.maricopa.edu/degrees-certificates/construction-trades.