Southside Virginia Community College Receives $300,000 grant from Lowe’s Foundation and New Klein Tools for skilled trades training program
Lowe’s and Klein Tools outfit SVCC training labs with industry-leading HVAC and electrical tools
Lowe’s associates and the Lowe’s Foundation visited the Lake Country Advanced Knowledge Center in South Hill to support Southside Virginia Community College's innovative skilled trades training program through a grant and Klein Tools donation.
David Green, Lowe’s Foundation board member and Lowe’s VP of tax management, presented Dr. Keith Harkins, VP of Academic & Workforce Programs with a $300,000 Lowe's Foundation Gable Grant as part of its larger five-year, $50 million commitment to help prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers.
Lowe’s partnered with Klein Tools, the No. 1 hand tool brand among electrical and HVAC professionals, to outfit SVCC’s electrical and HVAC training labs with new tools and equipment, such as hand tools, digital multimeters, HVAC sheet metal tools, personal protection equipment and more. The donation provides SVCC students with industry-leading professional tools to support hands-on training in their respective programs.
Lowe’s was joined by Casey Cairnes, HVAC professional and TikTok content creator, who spoke to current SVCC students about his 14 years in the industry. Casey shared stories about his successes and lessons on the job and led a hands-on training using Klein Tools.
"Equipping students with both the tools they need as well as the tips and tricks for using them on a jobsite is something I think should be standard part of the trade school education process and I’m fortunate to be part of this partnership,” said Casey Cairnes, HVAC professional, business owner and content creator. "Working with Lowe's and Klein Tools to pay-it-forward in this hands-on way, empowering the next generation of professionals is true full circle moment for me.”
About Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 17 million customer transactions a week in the U.S. With total fiscal year 2022 sales of over $97 billion, approximately $92 billion of sales were generated in the U.S., where Lowe's operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and employs approximately 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.
About the Lowe’s Foundation
The Lowe’s Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) organization founded by Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW), is developing a community of skilled tradespeople to build and revitalize our homes, neighborhoods and infrastructure for the future. From 2023 through 2028, the Lowe’s Foundation is investing $50 million to help prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers through grants to community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofit organizations and national nonprofit partners with a strong local presence. To learn more about the Lowe's Foundation, visit Lowes.com/Foundation and follow on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About Klein Tools
Since 1857 Klein Tools, a family-owned and operated company, has been designing, developing and manufacturing premium-quality, professional-grade hand tools. The majority of Klein tools are manufactured in plants throughout the United States and are the No. 1 choice among professional electricians and other tradespeople. Klein is a registered trademark of Klein Tools, Inc. For more information, visit www.kleintools.com
About Southside Virginia Community College
Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) is a two-year institution of higher education established as a part of the Virginia statewide system of community colleges (VCCS). SVCC serves primarily the residents of the city of Emporia and the counties of Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Greensville, Halifax (partial), Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward. This represents an area of approximately 4,200 square miles. SVCC serves as a gateway to education, training, and employment opportunities by providing relevant and innovative programs responsive to the diverse communities it serves in a student-centered, inclusive learning environment.