$700,000 investment will expand skilled trades training, career pathways, and industry partnerships

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has been selected to receive a second Gable Grant from the Lowe’s Foundation; a $700,000 investment aimed at expanding and accelerating the college’s skilled trades education programs. The grant is part of the foundation’s national effort to close the skilled labor gap through strategic partnerships with community and technical colleges.

MGCCC is one of only 12 institutions nationwide awarded a 2025 Gable Grant, joining a prestigious network of 60 organizations leading scalable solutions to the skilled trades workforce shortage. The foundation announced its latest round of funding today, bringing its total Gable Grants investment to $43 million across 28 states.

“Collectively, we are writing a comeback story for the skilled trades industry,” said Janice Dupré, Lowe’s executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe’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 award marks MGCCC’s second Gable Grant. The college received $1 million in 2023 to expand technical training and launch its first-ever Commercial and Residential Construction Technology program for incarcerated students—equipping individuals with industry credentials and skills in carpentry, plumbing, masonry, and electrical work.

Building on that success, the new grant will support a range of transformative initiatives, including:

• The launch of evening Electrical Technology courses to create a stronger apprenticeship pipeline.
• Full-time faculty positions in Construction Management and Electrical Technology.
• A Construction Skills Lab/makerspace at the Harrison County Campus to support 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, MGCCC’s vice president of Teaching & Learning and Community Campus. “We’re not only training students for today’s workforce—we’re preparing them to lead and innovate in the workforce of the future.”

The grant also strengthens key MGCCC programs including Construction Management, Drafting and Design Technology, HVAC Technology, and an Internet of Things (IoT) certificate.

According to the National Association of Homebuilders, the skilled labor gap contributes to a $10 billion annual loss in the housing sector. With nearly one million construction and manufacturing jobs unfilled nationwide, MGCCC’s work—fueled by the Lowe’s Foundation—is creating critical solutions.

“This grant allows us to change lives while also strengthening the economy of the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” Woodward said. “We’re grateful to the Lowe’s Foundation for investing in our students, our college, and our community.”