The Loews Foundation Gable Grant Program awarded Madisonville Community College a one-time award of $450,000 for building one of its programs.
The university plans to use the funding to build a credential grid between its electrical engineering and HVAC programs. This will allow rural students to complete a combined program in five or six semesters instead of eight.
MCC President Dr. Cindy Kelly said she was honored to participate in the Low Foundation Gable Grant Program.
“Our innovative faculty are reimagining our electrical technology and HVAC program offerings to meet the needs of our industry and community,” she said. “This funding will help build a foundation for our students to gain the qualifications they need in a short period of time. doing.”
The Loews Foundation announced that it will provide approximately $8 million in grants to community colleges and vocational schools nationwide to support innovative skilled worker training programs. This grant is the first of her five-year $50 million effort to help prepare 50,000 skilled trade careers.
Other grant recipients include Coconino County Community College, Arizona; Columbus Technical College, Georgia; Howard College-San Angelo, Texas; Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana; Miami-Dade College, Florida; Includes MiraCosta College and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Palm Beach State University in Mississippi, Florida and Southside Virginia Community College in Virginia.
Janice Dupre, executive vice president of human resources at Lowe’s and president of the Lowe’s Foundation, said these valued schools are driving the transformation of the skilled trade workforce through sustainable and inclusive career paths.
“These grants had many outstanding applicants, which speaks to the urgent need to increase the capacity of skilled workers across the country,” she said. “We are confident that these university programs will strengthen the infrastructure of skilled trade for years to come.”
The grant process was highly competitive, with more than 200 applications nationwide, underscoring the need and value of investing in the country’s skilled training infrastructure, according to a news release.
Walter Banfuss, President and CEO of the Association of American Community Colleges, is committed to being innovative and responsive with the Loews Foundation’s Gable Grants support for community and technical colleges. , said that it will be possible to expand the training of skilled technicians, which is in high demand. community colleges nationwide.
“This unique program will allow community colleges to expand existing programs, upgrade technology and infrastructure, establish new initiatives, and increase their impact in striving to meet the needs of their communities. Let’s go,” he said.
