Mississauga, ON — Applications are now open for the Grow the Trades grant, which provides construction skills training and reskilling programs. Run by DeWalt, over the next five year, the tooling company is committing $30 million to programs that help grow skills for tradespeople.
Applications will be accepted until June 30.
“Due to a lack of skilled trade workers, we are addressing the estimated 500,000 unfilled construction jobs in North America and globally,” said Matt Markowiak, director of marketing for DeWalt Canada. The grant helps reinforce DeWalt’s efforts to advance and accelerate vocational skills training programs and fuel the growth of trade careers.
In North America, DeWalt plans to award up to $3 million in cash grant funding and up to $500,000 in tool donations per year over five years, beginning last year as a component of Grow the Trades.
Cash grants will vary in size from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $200,000 in the U.S. or equivalent value in Canada. Tool donation grants range from $10,000 to $25,000 U.S. retail value. There is no set limit on the number of grantees that will be awarded each year
In Canada, organizations that qualify to receive a grant are Canadian registered charities, public schools, and nonprofit trade schools with a valid organization email address and W-8BEN, W-8ECI, W-8IMY or W-8EXP, depending on the situation.
Eligible programs include high school trade skills training programs, training centres, vocational and nonprofit trade schools, maker spaces focused on trade skills, community and technical colleges, and nonprofits focused on vocational and trade skills development.