SPARK 618—Skills Pathways Accessibility Resilience Knowledge—is a Carbondale-based nonprofit connecting Southern Illinois residents with workforce training, clean energy career pathways, and community partnerships that help people build stable futures. With the Lowe’s Community Impact Grant, SPARK 618 will renovate approximately 1,000 square feet at the Eurma C. Hayes Community Center into the SPARK 618 Skilled Trades Learning Lab.
SheBuilds Futures is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing girls for careers in architecture, construction, engineering, and the skilled trades through hands-on learning experiences. With the Lowe’s Community Impact Grant, the organization will complete the interior build-out of the Building Futures Innovation Academy. These improvements will create a safe, hands-on learning environment that strengthens the local workforce pipeline and provides students with access to real-world skills and career opportunities.
Through the Lowe’s Community Impact Grant, Rhode Island Women in Trades Skills will renovate a historic carriage house into the Rhode Island Women in the Trades Skilled Trades Training Center, which will include a hands-on learning space and a community toolbox that provides access to tools equipment and training resources. The center will strengthen workforce development by preparing women for apprenticeships union careers and construction jobs that provide family sustaining wages while preserving community history.
A Hub for Hope is dedicated to restoring lives and rebuilding futures by equipping returning citizens and underserved individuals with practical skills, supportive services, and pathways to self-sufficiency. Through Lowe’s Community Impact Grant, the organization will transform its space into a hands-on trade workspace for DIY training in areas such as drywall, plumbing, and electrical, while also creating a dedicated podcast studio where participants can share their stories and amplify their voices.
The Eastern North Carolina Farmer Collaborative works to support and sustain local farmers through education, shared resources, and community-based initiatives that strengthen regional agriculture. With support from the Lowe’s Community Impact Grant, the organization will complete its Educational Food Safety Center. These improvements will provide farmers with a safe, accessible place to properly handle and store produce, increasing food safety, expanding market opportunities, and benefiting the health and economic vitality of our community.
Cada Casa is a Beaverton-based nonprofit dedicated to expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE), creative opportunity, and economic mobility for multicultural youth and families in Washington County. With support from Lowe’s, Cada Casa will renovate a community facility into a Design Lab and Community Cultural Center featuring a tools library, workshop and classroom spaces, and a modular environment for hands-on technical training and community programming.
Aspiritech’s mission is to empower individuals on the autism spectrum to fulfill their potential through meaningful employment combined with social opportunity. With support from the Lowe’s Community Impact Grant, Aspiritech will renovate its Evanston headquarters to improve ADA accessibility, add sensory-friendly spaces, and expand its workforce training academy and cybersecurity classroom. These improvements will create a more inclusive, accessible environment that supports long-term economic mobility for autistic and neurodivergent adults in the community.