Houston City College gets $1 million boost for skilled trades training

Houston City College has landed a $1 million Gable Grant from Lowe’s Foundation, one of only 10 community colleges nationwide selected for the award, and the school says the money will help prepare 400 new students for skilled trades jobs in Greater Houston. The funding will support training in electrical work, carpentry, construction, HVAC and plumbing, along with scholarships and other help for students facing barriers to finishing.

The grant arrives as Houston-area employers continue looking for workers who can wire homes, service air conditioners, repair plumbing systems and keep buildings running across Harris County. Lowe’s Foundation says its Gable Grants program is a five-year, $50 million commitment aimed at training 50,000 job-ready skilled tradespeople, and the foundation says the industry will need nearly 349,000 new workers in 2026.

Houston City College has already been building out that pipeline. In June 2026, the college announced a $17 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies to launch Gulf Coast TradeUp Careers, a regional workforce transformation effort focused on skilled trades and apprenticeships. The new Lowe’s funding adds another layer to that effort, giving the college more room to expand training capacity and connect students with employers in the Greater Houston region.

For Harris County residents, the most immediate effect may be access. The college said the grant will help pay for scholarships and other supports that can keep students enrolled when rent, transportation or family responsibilities threaten to slow them down. That matters for adults seeking a stable career path without taking on the cost of a four-year degree, especially in fields where certificates, hands-on training and apprenticeships can lead directly to work.

Lowe’s Foundation said its national Gable Grants network has grown to 73 partners across 30 states, part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s skilled trades pipeline. Houston City College’s place in that network gives local students another route into high-demand jobs and gives Houston employers a larger pool of electricians, HVAC technicians, carpenters and plumbers. Frances Villagran-Glover shared the news from the college, and college leaders thanked the foundation for investing in students, the community and the region’s workforce.