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Lowe’s Helps HBI Job Corps Grads Pursue Housing Careers
 A collaboration between Lowe’s Home Improvement and the Home Builder’s Institute (HBI), the workforce development arm of NAHB, is enabling young graduate’s of HBI’s Job Corps training programs to pursue careers in the home building industry.
A $50,000 donation from Lowe’s last April was instrumental in establishing the Building Careers Scholarship program, which helps the graduates overcome the barriers they face when getting started in a first job, such as finding transportation for work.
A member of NAHB, Lowe’s featured the partnership with HBI in its exhibit at January’s International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando, Fla. The names of the Job Corps graduates who have received scholarships were listed on three brass plaques at the exhibit entrance.
 “We know that 18 young men and women graduated from Job Corps and started jobs in our industry thanks to Lowe’s support,” said HBI Board Chair Patsy Smith. “Not all the student graduates need the extra help, but we are elated that Lowe’s is there for those who do.”
Lowe’s provided further support for HBI’s Job Corps programs by donating the materials to build the HBI Job Corps Skills Exhibit booth at the IBS, energizing students and staff to work long and hard to put together a display that has remained a source of pride long after the exhibition.
Each year, HBI trains more than 2,000 at-risk youths enrolled in the Department of Labor’s Job Corps program. HBI offers training and job placement support to students in seven trades — carpentry, facilities maintenance, electrical wiring, painting, plumbing, brick masonry and landscaping.
For more information on the HBI/Lowe’s Building Careers program, e-mail Keith Albright or Maria McIntyre at HBI; or call them at 800-795-7955 x8911 or x8912, respectively.
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