When Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina, it left more than wreckage in its wake—it left families without homes, communities without workers, and futures on hold. In response to the widespread damage, Lowe’s and the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) launched the Rapid Recovery Construction Training Program (RRCA) at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, North Carolina.
Powered by NCCER’s Level Up: Core Construction curriculum and funded through Lowe’s disaster relief initiative, RRCA is a tuition-free, fast-track program designed to train and place students, many of who lost their previous jobs due to the hurricane, in high-demand trades like electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and general construction—quickly and effectively.
“Lowe’s collaborated with NCCER to develop this training program as a result of the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian,” said Julie Yenichek, Lowe’s director of community relations. “The program is a fast-track to a new career that will not only help people get back on their feet after a disaster, but also help their neighbors rebuild.”
Now, the first cohort of students completed the 12-week program and they're ready to enter the workforce.
One of those students, Agustin Ramirez Cruz, spent more than a decade waiting tables at Golden Corral before deciding to pursue a new path. “Pretty much one day, I was just tired of being a server,” he said. “And I decided I want to do something else.”
He enrolled in the RRCA course with no construction or tool experience and wasn’t sure what to expect. “This is my first time stepping out of my comfort zone,” Agustin said. “I’d been serving for over 10 years—and never touched a nail gun or saw before. Everything was new. But I feel like I’ve come a long way.”
Agustin’s career in the trades may have just begun, but it’s already moving forward. He’s secured an HVAC apprenticeship and plans to continue building on the foundation the course provided.
I got the apprenticeship for the HVAC. The next step is to further my knowledge of hand tools and how to use them effectively. I learned a lot—measurements and construction math. I plan on using that, especially out there.
According to instructor Jason Baxley, who leads the Level Up: Core Construction program, every graduate of this first cohort is now fully employed in a trade.
“Knowing that I'm able to put out high-quality training in a short period of time… taking somebody that has almost no construction knowledge and giving them a really firm foundation—it’s rewarding for me.”
This summer, Lowe’s is also launching the RRCA in Los Angeles, California in response to the wildfires earlier this year. The storm may have passed, but recovery continues. Thanks to Lowe’s, NCCER, and the determination of students like Augustine, Western North Carolina is rebuilding—one skilled worker at a time.
