#United States #Atlanta #Boys & Girls Clubs #Home Depot Foundation #Path to Pro

The Home Depot Foundation's $10 Million Investment in Skilled Trades

In a bid to address the ever-growing gap in skilled labor, The Home Depot Foundation has made a significant investment of $10 million aimed at broadening access to skilled trades training across the United States. This initiative comes at a time when students are re-entering schools, marking a key moment for educational and career development.

A central feature of this initiative is a brand-new partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), backed by a $1 million grant. The collaboration is set to introduce numerous young individuals to career paths in the construction trades. The initiative focuses particularly on students from underserved communities, guiding them toward promising careers in carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, and HVAC.

This partnership kicks off with a two-year pilot program at Boys & Girls Clubs located in several cities, including Atlanta, Phoenix, and Houston, and aims to reach over a thousand youth. During the program, participants will benefit from hands-on experience, innovative skills training, and opportunities to work alongside Team Depot — The Home Depot's team of volunteer associates — on valuable community projects.

Erin Izen, the executive director of The Home Depot Foundation, expressed optimism about this initiative, stating, "The skilled trades offer some of the most promising career paths, yet many young people either aren't aware of or lack access to these opportunities." She highlighted the importance of empowering students with necessary skills, thereby ensuring a stronger future for the construction industry as a whole.

Despite the existence of roughly 400,000 job openings in skilled construction trades, statistics suggest that only a small percentage of new workers express interest in entering these fields. A study conducted by the Home Builders Institute (HBI) and the University of Denver warns that this workforce gap could inflict a staggering cost of $10.8 billion on the residential construction sector, attributed to increased build times and diminished productivity when executing single-family home projects.

As many skilled trades workers foreseen to retire in the next decade, instilling early exposure to these career paths is vital to cultivating a sustainable talent pipeline. Jennifer Bateman, the senior vice president of youth development at BGCA, echoed this sentiment when she noted, "This partnership with The Home Depot Foundation opens doors to skilled trades careers, empowering thousands of youth to discover their potential and build great futures."

Beyond the collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs, The Home Depot Foundation's investment is also set to bolster existing partnerships, such as with HBI, aiming to significantly expand its pre-apprenticeship certification program. This expansion is intended to reach nearly 2,000 additional high school students across 25 more schools. Moreover, HBI will maintain initiatives linked to 100 Black Men of America and other military transition programs focused on trades training.

Among the broad range of initiatives being supported, new grants will assist separating service members, military families, and veterans. This includes Folds of Honor scholarships aimed at helping those enroll in accredited trade schools. Other beneficiaries of funding will include organizations like Construction Ready and SkillPointe Foundation, both of which provide critical training and scholarships for students pursuing skilled trades.

This ambitious framework aligns seamlessly with The Home Depot’s ongoing Path to Pro programs, offering free online training and a robust network that connects over 65,000 candidates with employment opportunities in the trades sector. The Path to Pro initiative plays a crucial role in addressing the urgent need for skilled labor in the construction industry while simultaneously nurturing the next generation of tradespeople.

About The Home Depot Foundation

The Home Depot Foundation, affiliated with The Home Depot (NYSE: HD), is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of U.S. veterans, supporting communities affected by natural disasters, and training skilled tradespeople to bridge the labor gap. With an impressive track record, the Foundation has invested over $550 million in veteran causes and positively influenced more than 65,000 veteran homes and facilities. Furthermore, the Foundation has pledged a commitment of $750 million toward veteran support by 2030, alongside investing $50 million in training the upcoming generation of skilled tradesmen through the Path to Pro program by 2028.

About Path to Pro

In the United States, over 400,000 construction jobs remain unfilled — a number that only continues to rise. Through its Path to Pro Program, The Home Depot Foundation offers free training opportunities and scholarships intended to introduce youth, underserved communities, and transitioning U.S. military servicemembers to impactful careers in plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, and HVAC. The program simultaneously aims to connect skilled tradespeople with job openings across the construction field while providing free virtual classes on various trades careers.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Having served children and teens for over 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America provides a safe environment for youth development. Focused on promoting academic success, good character, and leadership, and healthy lifestyles, BGCA operates more than 5,500 Clubs catering to over 4 million young individuals nationwide. The organization works tirelessly toward offering mentorship and impactful programs during critical hours outside the traditional school setting.