Following last month’s announcement of a $3 million commitment to support wildfire relief in Southern California, The Home Depot Foundation is investing $500,000 of those funds into skilled trades programming in the region, impacting students pursuing trades careers through post-secondary education.
Through the Path to Pro program, which aims to help fill the skilled labor gap, the Foundation will work with its nonprofit partners to support rebuilding efforts in an area that saw thousands of structures damaged or destroyed by the fires. Those partners include:
- Home Builders Institute (HBI), partnering with the Foundation to support community colleges and post-secondary schools in the Los Angeles area that train students for skilled trades careers. Funds will be used to cover costs for curriculum as well as equip classrooms with necessary tools; and
- SkillPointe Foundation, which will award 100 construction career scholarships to Southern California students pursuing a trades college or post-secondary program.
“While every natural disaster is devastating, the total loss that occurs due to wildfires like those that impacted Southern California calls for a long-term recovery strategy that will require an enormous number of skilled workers in construction,” said Erin Izen, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “The Home Depot is committed to being there for our communities for the long haul, and that includes helping to train the next generation of tradespeople who will spearhead this rebuilding process.”
At any given time, there are approximately 400,000 open jobs requiring tradespeople like skilled plumbers, carpenters, electricians and HVAC specialists, with 40% of current construction workers set to retire by 2031. As the impact of natural disasters continues to increase, The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation are committed to supporting communities with immediate relief needs as well as ensuring they’re equipped to rebuild in the long-term.
