Chattahoochee Technical College Receives $750,000 from the Lowe’s Foundation for Skilled Trades Workforce Development
Chattahoochee Technical College has been selected as one of 10 community and technical colleges to receive support from the Lowe’s Foundation to scale training and remove education barriers for sought-after trades careers.
The Lowe’s Foundation awarded $750,000 to Chattahoochee Technical College as a part of 10 community and technical colleges receiving Gable Grants this week. Since awarding its first grants three years ago, the foundation has expanded skilled trades career pathways through its growing network of 73 workforce development organizations in 30 states.
With this grant, Chattahoochee Tech will expand HVAC and commercial climate-control training to help meet growing workforce demand in the Atlanta and northwest Georgia region. The grant will support additional instructors, expanded lab capacity and hands-on training equipment, increasing enrollment while preparing more students for in-demand careers through industry-connected instruction. Many students are already securing jobs before completing the program, underscoring the strong demand for skilled trades talent.
“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 Dupré, 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. We are proud to help lead this collaborative model, to train and develop skills trade professionals to serve across multiple industries and companies.”
“This generous grant from the Lowe’s Foundation powerfully helps to advance our mission to transform lives through contemporary education”, said Heather Pence, President of Chattahoochee Technical College. “By expanding our Air Conditioning Technology program, we can prepare even more job‑ready technicians who will meet critical workforce needs across the communities we serve.”
From funding new skilled trades facilities and instructors to accreditation programs, the grants will support carpentry and construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and appliance repair training. These grants are part of the Lowe’s Foundation’s expanded $250 million commitment to help train and develop 250,000 skilled tradespeople by 2035, scaling its workforce investment five-fold after surpassing its original funding goal ahead of schedule.
About the Lowe’s Foundation:
The Lowe’s Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) organization founded by Lowe’s, is solving the critical skilled trades labor shortage and helping fulfill dreams for the next generation of Pros. By 2035, the Lowe’s Foundation will invest $250 million to help train and develop 250,000 people for skilled trades careers through grants to community and technical colleges and nonprofit organizations. To learn more about the Lowe's Foundation, visit LowesFoundation.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Chattahoochee Technical College:
A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Chattahoochee Tech awards certificates, diplomas and associate degrees in programs of study linked to the state’s fastest-growing, high-demand career fields. Chattahoochee Tech has nine campuses, which are located in Cobb, Bartow, Cherokee, Paulding and Pickens counties. Students can graduate in two years or less at Chattahoochee Tech with a meaningful degree that is immediately usable and builds a lasting career. The college offers real-world training in a wide range of programs for students at all stages of life to quickly start, change, or accelerate their careers. The college also offers customized workforce training, continuing education classes, and Adult Education programs that include free GED preparation classes.