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.

Explore The Trades Skills Lab,
Built by Ferguson

Did you know the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 2% growth in plumbing jobs and a 6% growth in HVAC jobs between 2022-2032?

The skilled trades are vital to the wellbeing and growth of communities and all schools are encouraged to apply for equipment grants through this program to bring the plumbing and HVAC trades to their students.

Since 2021, 25 schools in 15 states have participated in the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” initiative. Over 2,100 students have been impacted by having the plumbing and HVAC trades as part of their middle or high school education.

Explore The Trades and Ferguson are pleased to open applications for equipment grants for a fourth year. New for the 2024-2025 application year, SkillCat has joined this program to bring technical training to students of recipient schools. To complement the equipment grants, SkillCat will be providing all grant recipient schools with licenses to their platform to enhance the technical learning of students. To learn more about SkillCat, please see the information below.

Together, we continue building the skilled workforce by introducing vital trades careers to middle and high school students in the United States and Canada.

Interested applicants are encouraged to read the program criteria and FAQs linked below.

Proposed Criteria/Eligibility

  • Applications will be accepted from October 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025.
  • Grant funds will be allocated as follows:
    • $25,000 worth of product and equipment available to those applying for a new plumbing or HVAC skills lab.
    • $10,000 worth of product and equipment available to those applying to refurbish an existing plumbing or HVAC skills lab.
  • Applications may be submitted to Maddy Sorenson, Project Coordinator at Explore The Trades, at [email protected] or through the linked applications below.
  • For any questions about the Skills Lab initiative, please contact Kate Cinnamo, Executive Director of Explore The Trades, at [email protected] or 651-789-8518, Maddy Sorenson, Project Coordinator at Explore The Trades, at [email protected] or 651-314-3856, or Toni Bower, Donor Engagement Specialist at Explore The Trades, at [email protected] or 651-300-1612.

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

Address of School*
Primary Contact Name*
Secondary Contact Name*
What grade levels does the school serve?*

What is the demographic makeup of the student body?

What trade will outfit the new skills lab?*
Does the school have existing trades and/or technical classes?*

Industry Partner Information


Explore The Trades would like to thank our program partners.

A special thank you to Ferguson,
Founding Partner of the Skills Lab program since 2021.

Partner of the Skills Lab program since 2024.

Ferguson Grant Application (Refurbished)

"*" indicates required fields

School Information

Address of School*
Primary Contact Name*
Secondary Contact Name*
What grade levels does the school serve?

What is the demographic makeup of the student body?

For which trade is your skills lab built?*
Max. file size: 16 MB.

Industry Partner Information


Explore The Trades would like to thank our program partners.

A special thank you to Ferguson,
Founding Partner of the Skills Lab program since 2021.

Partner of the Skills Lab program since 2024.

(L to R) Photo courtesy of Callaway High School; photo courtesy of Lebanon County Career and Technology Center.

Explore The Trades Partners with SkillCat

Explore The Trades is excited to announce a new partnership between SkillCat and the "Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grants!

This partnership will further enhance the student experience and complement the existing curriculum used by Skills Lab instructors.

SkillCat is an app-based training program for those looking to begin, or develop, their careers in the trades. With various certifications available like EPA 608, OSHA-10, and trade school diploma programs, SkillCat is making trades education possible, which makes their place in the Skills Lab program a great fit.

Interested in using SkillCat? Try it today! Use the code “ETT20” and get a jumpstart on learning valuable skills for your trades career.

Learn more about SkillCat with the link below!

SkillCat

2023-2024 recipients:

  • Appomattox County High School – HVAC (Virginia)
  • Bemidji High School – HVAC (Minnesota)
  • Callaway High School – HVAC (Georgia)
  • Gateway Regional – HVAC (New Jersey)
  • Ivy Academy – HVAC (Tennessee)
  • Lebanon County Career and Technology Center – Plumbing (Pennsylvania)
  • Mayfair Elementary and Middle School – Plumbing (Pennsylvania)
  • Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center – HVAC (Missouri)
  • Raymore-Peculiar Public School Foundation – HVAC (Missouri)
  • Saginaw Career Complex – HVAC (Michigan)
  • Thomas J. Corcoran High School – HVAC (New York)
  • Woodruff Career and Technical Center – HVAC (Illinois)

2022-2023 recipients:

  • Bronx Design & Construction High School – Plumbing (New York)
  • Carroll Co. Career & Technical Center – HVAC (Maryland)
  • Franklin Co. High School – Plumbing (Virginia)
  • Hastings High School – Plumbing (Michigan)
  • Lyman High School – Plumbing (Florida)
  • Milford Mill Academy – Plumbing (Maryland)
  • Roxbury High School – Plumbing (New Jersey)
  • SVHEC Career Tech Academy – HVAC (Virginia)
  • West Lincoln Middle School – Plumbing (North Carolina)
  • Western School of Tech & Environmental Science – Plumbing (Maryland)

2021-2022 recipients:

  • Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center – Plumbing (Texas)
  • Washburn Tech – Plumbing (Kansas)
  • Haney Technical College – HVAC (Florida)

About Explore The Trades:

Founded in 2005, Explore The Trades is committed to bridging the technical talent gap to the plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical service trades. The organization is focused on bringing the skilled trades conversation back into the classroom, focusing on providing industry information to educators, parents, and students in the K-12 audience.

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