(WACO, Texas) – Texas State Technical College has been awarded a $675,000 grant through the Lowe’s Foundation’s Gable Grants program which is transforming the lives of students.
“The TSTC Foundation appreciates the Lowe’s Foundation’s selection of TSTC as a Gable Grant recipient,” said Karen K. Martin, president of The TSTC Foundation. “This will impact the lives of many of our students preparing to move into high-demand jobs. The funding for scholarships, equipment and tool kits through The TSTC Foundation shows Lowe’s investment in skilled trades education nationally.”
Within the grant, $250,000 was used to purchase modern, state-of-the-art equipment for the Construction Technologies Center, which opened earlier this year at the Waco campus. The 120,000-square-foot structure is home to the Building Construction, Electrical Construction, HVAC, Plumbing and Pipefitting and Solar Energy programs. More than 1,000 students are expected to work with the new equipment funded through the grant.
Funding is also being used to provide scholarships and tool kits to students in the Building Construction, Electrical Construction, HVAC, Plumbing and Pipefitting and Solar Energy programs at TSTC’s Waco campus. Low-income and Pell Grant-eligible students receiving the tool kits are ensured regardless of financial circumstances that they have the resources needed to maximize their potential.
Participants in select courses taught at TSTC’S The WorkSITE (Skills, Innovation, Training and Education) on Wycon Drive in Waco can receive scholarships. This helps area companies access a pipeline of trained workers.
More than 130 students have so far been awarded scholarships. The grant is expected to impact about 1,000 students.
TSTC is among the 12 two-year institutions receiving $7 million in strategic grants from the Lowe’s Foundation. The cohort joins a national network of more than 60 organizations in 28 states. The Gable Grants initiative began in 2023 and has awarded about $43 million.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Lowe’s Foundation on this incredible opportunity,” said Beth Wooten, provost of TSTC’s Waco campus. “Their support is a game changer for our programs and the students we serve. Together, we’re helping build real pathways into high-demand skilled trades and creating lasting impact in our community.”
For more information on the Lowe’s Foundation, go to lowesfoundation.org.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.