Stanley Black & Decker Announces First Recipients of Empower Makers Global Impact Challenge

Stanley Black & Decker, the parent company of MTD and Excel Industries, has announced the recipients of its inaugural Empower Makers Global Impact Challenge grant program. The program awards up to $25 million in grant funding over five years to nonprofits that are supporting trade workforce development initiatives with the goal of skilling and reskilling up to 3 million makers.

Fifty-nine organizations have been selected to receive $3 million to enable vital trade skills training and reskilling programs in the construction and manufacturing sectors. The inaugural recipients include career development schools, community colleges, construction nonprofits and trade schools from around the globe committed to positively impacting trade professions. In addition, the company will be providing nearly $1 million in tool donations to another 27 organizations to outfit makerspaces and training facilities.

“Congratulations to this year’s Impact Challenge winners, who are each making a significant impact in helping to address the skills trade gap,” says Diane Cantello, Stanley Black & Decker’s vice president of social impact. “Our purpose is to support ‘Those Who Make the World,’ and being able to fund educational programs and non-profits that are revitalizing trade careers directly connects to our core mission. By helping provide a pathway for trade professionals, we are also setting our sights on constructing a better future that can uplift the hardworking tradespeople who build our world to meet the ever-changing needs of society.”

More than 240 total applications were evaluated based on number of people served, outcomes projected, sustainable impact, depth of programs and diversity, among many other considerations. This year’s recipients are anticipated to empower roughly 180,000 Makers through unique programming. Examples include:

  • Workshops For Warriors Veteran program will teach skilled training for entry level welders or machinists;
  • YWCA of Metro Chicago will lead a 12-week training course in carpentry;
  • Region 14 Building Trades Program will teach pre-apprenticeship construction training programs; and
  • Cornerstones of Care – Build Trybe will provide mentorship to under-resourced foster youth through vocational training.

Scroll down to view the complete list of recipients.

“Our Makers Grant recipients are inspiring – each application demonstrated a deep commitment from the organization to their communities,” says Cantello. “Being able to support these organizations as they implement new programs aimed at filling the trade skills gap will help support regional job creation, sustainable careers in the trades, and the advancement of these critical professions where there is a shortage of skilled workers.”

Stanley Black & Decker will continue to showcase and share the important work of the Makers Grant recipients online at EmpowerMakers.com as well as on Stanley Black & Decker’s social-media channels. The Empower Makers Global Impact Challenge will reopen for applications beginning October 1, 2022.

Inaugural Empower Makers Global Impact Challenge Grant Recipients
*Denotes Tool Grant Recipients.

11th and 12th Grade Programs / Community CollegesAce Mentor Program of America Inc.
Ace Mentor Program of America Inc. – Illinois
Capital Community College Foundation
Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Inc.
Construction for Change Construction Foundation of BC (2012) Society* Cornerstones of Care
Edmonds Community College Foundation
Father Flanagan’s Boys Home*
Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan
Girl Scouts of The Green And White Mountains*
Goodwin University House of Heroes Inc.*
Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network Inc.
Manufacturing Renaissance
Midland College Foundation Inc.*
Sheet Metal Workers
Somers High School*
The College of the Canyons Foundation*
The Philadelphia Academies Inc.
Tidioute Community Charter School*
Virginia Foundation for Community College Education
Construction NonprofitsAppalachia Service Project Inc
Building Bridges Across the River*
Building Heroes Education Foundation
Center For Military Recruitment Assessment And Veterans Employment Construyendo a México Crecemos IAP
District of Columbia Students Construction Trades Foundation Inc*
Girls Garage
Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont Inc
Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity
International Training Institute for the Sheet Metal & AC Industry*
Knox Inc.
Knoxville Area Urban League
National Center for Construction Education Research
Revolution Workshop
St. Louis University
Safe Alternative Foundation for Education Inc.
Taller San Jose Hope Builders
The Coalition for Home Repair
Trade School At SBE Inc*
MakerspacesChicago Tool Library Co.*
Entrepreneurship Development Center
Eureka Springs School of the Arts Inc.
Fab Lab Tulsa Inc.
Freeside Technology Spaces
Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma Inc.*
Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council*
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois*
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland*
Make Delmarva Foundation Inc.*
Makehaven Inc.
Maker Nexus
Sustainable Muncie Corp*
The Makers Hub*
University of Texas Foundation*
Vector Space
Vocational & Trade SchoolsAtlantic Impact
Duval County Public Schools*
Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington
Goodwill Industries Inc
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas Inc.
Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit
Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee Inc.*
Goodwill Industries of The Chesapeake Inc.
Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas
Humanmade
International Training Fund*
Isles Inc.
Jobtrain, Inc.
Kids Making It Inc.*
Kids to Love Foundation
Leap Inc.
Manufacturing Institute
Hope Renovations
Orangeburg School District 5 Foundation
Polaris Career Center*
Region 14 Building Trades Program
Rochester Community & Technical College Foundation*
Rockland Boces Family Resource Center Foundation Inc.
Social Good Fund
The Economic Development Group Inc.
Tidewater Community College Educational Foundation Inc.
Workshops for Warriors Inc.
Worldskills International
Young Women’s Christian Association of Metropolitan Chicago

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