SKILLS LAB EQUIPMENT GRANTS ARE NOW OPEN!
We’re excited to announce that the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grant program is open for a new application cycle!
And this year, the program is growing! We’re proud to welcome Comfort Systems USA Foundation as a new partner supporting electrical Skills Labs, opening the door for even more students to get hands-on experience in one of today’s most in-demand trades.
We want to thank our founding partner, Ferguson, whose support has scaled the program reach since 2022.
Who can apply: Middle and high schools that want to start or expand career and technical education (CTE) programs.
When: Applications are open October 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027.
🎥 Watch the video below to learn more about the program and see past Skills Lab students at work.
Know a school that could use a Skills Lab? Share this with them! Industry pros like you are often the best link between local schools and the trades.
FUTURE IN FOCUS FUNDRAISING EVENT
Future in Focus: Thank You for an Unforgettable Night!
(L to R: Andrew Brown, Founder, Trades Media; Kate Cinnamo, Executive Director, Explore The Trades; Judaline Cassidy, Founder, Tools & Tiaras; Evin Jarrett, Director, Trade Exposure Network)
(L to R: Kate Cinnamo, Executive Director, Explore The Trades; Matt LaMartina, Owner, Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company; Peter Kuehnel, Operations Manager, Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company)
On September 17, more than 60 industry leaders, educators, and advocates joined us in San Antonio for Future in Focus, and together we raised more than $25,000 to help introduce students to careers in the skilled trades!
A special thank you to our Leading The Trades panelists, Evin Jarrett, Judaline Cassidy, and Andrew Brown, and to our event sponsors, ShuBee and HD Supply, for helping make the evening possible.
Congratulations to Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company, winner of our Lazy River Rubber Duck Race! See what they did with their winnings in the full recap blog.
Thank you to our event sponsors!
SKILLS LAB SPOTLIGHT
Northeast Metro 916 Career & Technical Center
Exciting progress is underway at Northeast Metro 916 Career & Technical Center in Minnesota, where a new Skills Lab is coming together through the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grant program.
This summer, members of the Explore The Trades team visited the school as equipment arrived for the lab and had the opportunity to meet with instructor Brian Linzmeier and principal Michelle Baland. Their enthusiasm for creating hands-on learning opportunities for students pursuing careers in the skilled trades made it clear that this lab will have a meaningful impact for years to come.
Brian Linzmeier, Instructor at Northeast Metro 916 Career & Technical Center (White Bear Lake, MN)
(L to R: Tom Quinlan, Market Branch Manager, Ferguson; Brian Linzmeier, Instructor, NE Metro 916 Career & Tech Center; Michelle Baland, Principal, NE Metro 916 Career & Tech Center; Kate Cinnamo, Executive Director, Explore The Trades)
Made possible through the support of Ferguson, the Skills Lab will help students gain real-world experience and develop the skills needed for successful careers in the skilled trades.
Inspired by what’s happening at Northeast Metro 916? Applications for the next round of Skills Labs are open now! See the details with the link below.
Thank you to the Comfort Systems USA Foundation for partnering with us to power electrical Skills Labs this year!
Thank you to those who supported Explore The Trades from
July 1 – September, 2026.
Action Air Plumbing & Septic
Aiello Home Services*
Alissa Johnson
American Mini Storage
Ann Heiser
Anthony Cooper
Ashton Service Group
Aux Home Services
Banks Quarles Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical
Beacon Pointe Advisors
Beltz Home Service Co.*
Bruce and Sally Robertson
Cole Services
Comfort First Heating and Cooling
Comfort Systems USA Foundation
Earl’s Heating and Cooling
Ed Bishop
Elsa Chase
Gary Chafetz
General Air Conditioning & Plumbing
Gibson’s Heating & Plumbing
Good’s Electric Heating and Air
Grasser Electric
HD Supply
Hickey Plumbing, Air & Electrical
Ilse Larsen
JAS Wireless*
Jason Fields
Jason Florek
Jim Hamilton
Joe & Sue Hoover
Jolly Plumbing, Drains, Heating, Air
Jon Hamilton
Kim Harbinson
Kim Nowack
Kory Geisser
Laura Mauricio
M&M Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Inc.
Maven Asset Management*
McCormick Electrical Services Inc.
Meg and Wyatt Smith
Miller’s Services
Murray & Terry Percival
Nathan Hoff*
Pink Callers*
Ricky Heath Plumbing, Heating & Cooling*
ShuBee
SkillCat
Spencer Legred-Sorenson
State Energy Inc.*
Steve Smith
Terry Ward
Thornton & Grooms*
Tim and Laurie Grappin
Tony LaMartina Plumbing Company, Inc.
TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing
Vaught Family
*A special thank you to our monthly donors for their ongoing support!
Interested in renewing your gift or joining our community of monthly donors?
IN THE NEWS
Explore The Trades in Midwest Design: Your Talent Pipeline Starts in Your Own Backyard
Explore The Trades was recently featured in Midwest Design in an article about how businesses can help close the skilled trades labor shortage by getting involved locally.
Explore The Trades shared why industry involvement doesn’t have to be overwhelming:
“The responsibility of the industry doesn’t mean every business does everything. It means that every business does something.”
The article also highlights our partner Bonfe, a Minneapolis and St. Paul home service provider. Bonfe builds its local talent pipeline through its own training programs, outreach at local high schools, and community partnerships with Explore The Trades.
Read the full article with the link below.
Explore The Trades is Coming to Public Television
“When a student hears the word ‘trades,’ we want them to picture diagnostics, innovation, and a spirit of entrepreneurship.” – Kate Cinnamo, Executive Director
We’re excited to share that Explore The Trades will be featured on All Access, hosted by Andy Garcia, highlighting our work to introduce students to careers in HVAC, plumbing and electrical, starting in the classroom. Thanks to supporters like you, our free poster kits have reached more than 1.3 million students in 3,300+ school districts, and Skills Lab equipment grants are now in 53 schools across 21 states.
The program will air on public television stations nationwide. Keep an eye out for air dates, which we’ll share as soon as they’re announced!
A MILESTONE WORTH CELEBRATING
We’ve Reached 25% of U.S. Public School Districts!
Explore The Trades resources are now being used in 25% of U.S. public school districts. That’s 3,387 districts helping students discover rewarding careers in the skilled trades!
From our Contractor Toolkit, which helps home service companies get ready for career days and classroom visits, to our new Spanish-language kids poster series, our resources help educators and industry partners bring trades career awareness back into the classroom.
Thank you to the educators, contractors, sponsors, and supporters who helped make this possible. Every school reached means more students finding careers that are essential, in demand, and full of opportunity.
25% reached, and we’re just getting started!
Donors of Explore The Trades support the next generation of tradespeople and the legacy of the plumbing, HVAC, and electrical trades.
To our supporters, we thank you.
To learn more about supporting Explore The Trades and its donors, click the link below.