York Technical College will expand its skilled trades training after receiving a $1 million grant from the Lowe's Foundation.
The Gable Grant will fund upgraded facilities and new equipment for the college's Building Construction Trades program, which trains students in HVAC, electrical work, carpentry, plumbing and appliance repair. The goal is to give students hands-on experience that mirrors real job-site conditions before they enter the workforce.
Lowe's Foundation Executive Director Betsy Conway and other foundation representatives visited York Tech's Rock Hill campus Thursday, Sept. 24, to present a ceremonial check. The delegation toured the college's trades labs and met with faculty and students. Conway said the grant will help close the skilled trades workforce gap by giving more people access to training that prepares them for jobs employers need filled.
"This investment enables us to align our labs with the standards students will encounter in industry and reinforces the partnership between education and employers that sustains our regional economy," said Dr. Meg Webber, vice president of academic affairs at York Tech, in the college's Sept. 28 announcement.
The grant matters locally. York Tech serves roughly 6,000 students across 108 academic programs at its main Rock Hill campus and an off-campus center in Chester.
York Tech was one of 10 community and technical colleges nationwide selected for a Gable Grant in this round. The 10 awards total nearly $8 million.
The Gable Grants program, launched in 2023, now supports 73 community colleges and nonprofits across 30 states, according to HR Dive. The Lowe's Foundation has committed $250 million to train 250,000 tradespeople by 2035.
The grant arrives as the building industry faces a persistent labor shortage. An estimated 2.1 million skilled trades jobs could go unfilled by 2030, creating potential economic losses of up to $1 trillion annually, according to the U.S. Department of Education, as cited by York Tech.
York Tech's Building Construction Trades program offers a diploma in air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics along with six certificates: HVAC installer, HVAC service technician, masonry, residential and commercial carpentry, plumbing and wiring. The programs are accredited by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Home Builders Institute (HBI), according to the college's program page.
Classes meet at the college's Construction Trades Facility at 394 South Wilson St. in Rock Hill. Registration for fall 2026 is open, and the next eight-week term begins Monday, Oct. 12. Details are available at the college's website.
