The Lowe’s Foundation is partnering with legendary heavy metal band Metallica’s All Within My Hands and its Metallica Scholars Initiative. The Metallica foundation’s nationwide program is receiving a $500,000 donation to expand its support of skilled trades training for community college students as enrollments rise at vocationally focused schools.

The donation from the Lowe’s Foundation will benefit hundreds of students at five community colleges. The donation will help fund critical training, equipment, recruiting and wraparound services. This complements the Lowe’s Foundation’s growing roster of Gable Grants recipients, which includes 11 other community colleges. The Associated General Contractors of America report that nearly 90% of contractors say they have trouble finding skilled workers, and an estimated half a million new skilled tradespeople will be needed to meet demand in 2024 alone, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors.

“Partnering with programs like the Metallica Scholars Initiative is key to the Lowe’s Foundation’s efforts to ensure the next generation of builders can meet the demands of our modern world,” said Janice Dupré, Lowe's executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe’s Foundation. “As we bring our shared goal to life and strengthen the skilled trades pipeline, we’re excited to see students unlocking their full potential through these transformative careers.”

This Lowe’s Foundation’s donation supports the following community colleges:

• Pima Community College (Tucson, Ariz.) will use its funding to support Metallica Scholars training for HVAC, carpentry, electrical and plumbing careers. The program also includes comprehensive career advising.

• College of Lake County (Grayslake, Ill.) will use its funding to recruit and retain a cohort of students who are training to join the local manufacturing workforce. The college will receive tools and a range of support for students pursuing certificates or degrees leading to HVAC, welding and automotive careers.

• San Juan College (Farmington, N.M.) will use its funding to support students in traditional construction programs and automotive technology. With a priority on low-income individuals, the college offers a range of wraparound services, from tools and equipment to gas cards and books.

• Western Dakota Technical College (Rapid City, S.D.) will use its funding to cover tuition, textbooks, tools and student services in its construction and plumbing programs.

• Milwaukee Area Technical College (Milwaukee) will use its funding to support hands-on career exploration and scholarships while it promotes “heavy metal” careers (automotive/diesel, HVAC, trucking and welding).

“Now entering its sixth year, the Metallica Scholars Initiative is an exceptional program focused on workforce education that has proven to be a galvanizing force across the community college ecosystem,” said Peter Delgrosso, executive director of All Within My Hands. "We are honored to partner with the Lowe’s Foundation to grow the trades while positively impacting many lives.”

The 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 approximately $18 million in Gable Grants to 24 organizations offering innovative and scalable skilled trades training across the U.S. The next grant application cycle for community-based nonprofits will run from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31.

To learn more about the challenges facing the skilled trades, visit Lowes.com/Foundation.