Explore The Trades: Skills Lab Webinar.

Join Explore The Trades for a second Skills Lab Q&A webinar on Wednesday, February 28th from 3-4 PM CST.

Recipients of the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab,
Built by Ferguson” Grants Announced

12 Schools to Receive Support to Create and Update Plumbing & HVAC Labs

The “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grants were announced on May 1, 2024, in celebration of National Skilled Trades Day.

Twelve schools are the newest recipients of the Skills Lab equipment grants, which are projected to reach over 1,000 students this upcoming school year. This dynamic program has experienced rapid growth since it began in 2021 and has now delivered plumbing and HVAC equipment to 26 schools and over 2,000 students nationwide.

“The national conversation around the importance of the skilled trades and technical education has reached a fever pitch this year,” noted Kate Cinnamo, Executive Director of Explore The Trades. “Trade education programs in communities around the nation are bringing the next generation to these industries. Our partnership with Ferguson has given school districts the opportunity to build skilled trades labs that enable their students to thrive. It’s so encouraging to see students discover the trades, develop a passion for them and know that those skill sets will benefit them in careers after high school graduation.”

“We are proud to partner with Explore The Trades and thrilled to see our shared vision of building a sustainable skilled trades pipeline come to life,” commented Melissa Hazelwood, Director of Social Impact at Ferguson. “With the recent surge of interest in trades careers and the substantial investments in our country’s infrastructure, the need for skilled tradespeople has never been more apparent. Through our concerted efforts, we are not just providing students with tools; we are laying the foundation for lifelong careers. Our partnership has already impacted thousands of students, and we are excited to continue this journey. We are committed to investing in the next generation.”

PDF Downloadable Forms:

Online Forms:

*Please note: It is recommended to complete the application in full, as it cannot be saved and edited later.

Ferguson Grant Application (New)

"*" indicates required fields

School Information

Name of School*

Address of School*

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Primary Contact Name*

First Last

Primary Contact Job Title*

Primary Contact Email*

Primary Contact Phone*

Secondary Contact Name*

First Last

Secondary Contact Job Title*

Secondary Contact Email*

Secondary Contact Phone*

What grade levels does the school serve?*

Middle School (grades 6-8)

High School (grades 9-12)

Number of Students Served*

What percentage of the student body receives free and reduced lunch?*

What is the demographic makeup of the student body?

Male %:*

Female %:*

BIPOC %:*

Describe the need for trades programming at the school.*

What trade will outfit the new skills lab?*

Plumbing

HVAC

What is the curriculum for the proposed trades class?*

What is the estimated number of students who will be impacted?*

Who is the instructor for the class and are they a licensed professional? Please list their licensure and/or certification.*

Is there space readily available for a new trades program in the building? If not, will an existing space need to be retrofitted for the new classroom? Please describe the space updates required.*

Does the school have existing trades and/or technical classes?*

Yes

Was the school planning to create a trades classroom prior to this project? If so, please note applicable partnerships that will help support this class (i.e. local service business, contractor, etc.).*

What is your plan to sustain the program after the initial funding?*

What is your plan to recruit students for the program? Do you currently have students interested in pursuing this trades program?*

What is the anticipated date by which the class could be open to the student body?*

Industry Partner Information

Does the school currently partner with local industry?*

If so, please explain the history of the partnership and how it benefits both school program and the business.*

What goals would the industry partner and school look to achieve with this partnership?*

What are the metrics by which you’ll measure success?*

Did this partnership exist prior to this project?*

How do you envision this partnership to grow over the years?*

If this application is not selected, is it financially feasible for this partnership to continue?*

Ferguson Grant Application (Refurbished)

"*" indicates required fields

School Information

Name of School*

Address of School*

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Primary Contact Name*

First Last

Primary Contact Job Title*

Primary Contact Email*

Primary Contact Phone*

Secondary Contact Name*

First Last

Secondary Contact Job Title*

Secondary Contact Email*

Secondary Contact Phone*

What grade levels does the school serve?

Middle School (grades 6-8)

High School (grades 9-12)

Number of Students Served*

What percentage of the student body receives free and reduced lunch?*

What is the demographic makeup of the student body?

Male %:*

Female %:*

BIPOC %:*

For which trade is your skills lab built?*

Plumbing

HVAC

How long has the class been offered to students?*

Describe the growth of the program (i.e. student enrollment).*

Please briefly describe the types of repairs or new equipment that is needed.*

Is space refurbishment needed for required city and/or building code?*

What is the curriculum for the current trades class?*

What is the estimated number of students who will be impacted if the skills lab is refurbished?*

Please provide the proposed floorplan of the classroom and equipment.*

Upload a floorplan, if you have one, here:

Max. file size: 16 MB.

Upon receiving new equipment and/or completing space refurbishments, what is the anticipated date by which the class could be open to the student body?*