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News and Announcements » TKHS Receives Grant to Expand Skilled Trades Class

TKHS Receives Grant to Expand Skilled Trades Class

                                                         

Explore The Trades and Ferguson Grow Skilled Trades Education with New Grants to 18 Schools

Record-Breaking Interest Highlights Growing Momentum for Career and Technical Education

 

 

Bloomington, Minnesota: The “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grants were announced on May 6, 2026, in celebration of National Skilled Trades Day.

This year, Explore The Trades received a record number of applications for the Skills Lab equipment grants—demonstrating unprecedented interest in career and technical education (CTE) from students, educators, and school communities across the country. From this highly competitive pool, 18 schools were selected as the newest recipients of the 2026 Skills Lab equipment grants.

These new grants are projected to reach over 2,100 students during the upcoming school year, providing hands-on access to skilled trades education and exposing learners to high-demand, well-paying career pathways. Since the program launched in 2021, the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” initiative has experienced rapid growth, delivering equipment to 49 high schools and 4 middle schools across 21 states nationwide.

The Skills Lab equipment grant program was launched in 2021 with Ferguson as its founding partner, leading the effort to equip schools with the resources needed to grow skilled trades education. In this role, Ferguson funds the equipment grants and provides the tools, resources, and ongoing support schools need to establish or expand skilled trades labs. This initiative reflects Ferguson’s long-term commitment to closing the skilled labor gap through education and workforce development partnerships.

Since 2024, SkillCat has been a key partner of the Skills Lab program, providing all grant recipients with free access to its accredited, online training platform for instructors and students throughout the

academic year. SkillCat’s coursework includes industry-recognized certifications such as EPA 608 and OSHA-10, helping students build foundational skills and prepare for in-demand careers in the trades.

“For over 20 years, Explore The Trades has supported skilled trades education and it’s inspiring to see how collaboration across education, industry, and workforce partners continues to drive meaningful impact,” said Kate Cinnamo, Executive Director of Explore The Trades. “I’m grateful that, alongside Ferguson and SkillCat, this program showcases what successful partnerships can achieve. It’s a privilege to support schools and instructors who are preparing students for in-demand trades careers that strengthen

communities and the economy.”

Melissa Hazelwood, Ferguson, Director – Social Impact commented: “As interest in the skilled trades continues to rise, building a strong workforce starts with providing real access, support and clear entry points into the industry. Programs like this are designed to strengthen the talent pipeline and give students the tools and opportunities they need to pursue rewarding, lasting careers in the trades.”

 

Congratulations to the following recipients! 2025-2026 Recipients

  •   Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education – HVAC (Milwaukee, WI)
  •       Camden County Technical Schools – Plumbing (Sicklerville, NJ)
  •       Delsea Regional High School – Plumbing (Franklinville, NJ)
  •   East Orange Campus High School – Plumbing (East Orange, NJ)
  •       Gloucester High School – HVAC (Gloucester, VA)
  •       Hunterdon County Vocational School District – North Campus – Plumbing (Flemington, NJ)
  •       La Center High School – Plumbing (La Center, WA)
  •   La Follette High School – Plumbing (Madison, WI)
  •   Millstream Career Center – Plumbing (Findlay, OH)
  •       New Horizons Regional Education Center – Plumbing (Newport News, VA)
  •       Northeast Metro 916 Career and Technical Center – HVAC (White Bear Lake, MN)
  •       Northwestern Area School District – Plumbing/HVAC (Mellette, SD)
  •   Patchogue-Medford High School – Plumbing (Medford, NY)
  •       Pennsauken High School – HVAC (Pennsauken, NJ)
  •       Pinelands Regional High School – Plumbing (Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ)
  •       Stafford Intermediate School – Plumbing/HVAC (Manahawkin, NJ)
  •   Thornapple Kellog High School – Plumbing (Middleville, MI)
  •       Western Suffolk BOCES – Wilson Tech – HVAC (Dix Hills, NY)

 

To see a list of all Skills Lab equipment grant recipients, please visit our website.

 

About Explore The Trades:

Founded in 2005, Explore The Trades, a nonprofit organization, is committed to bridging the technical talent gap to the plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical service trades. Explore The Trades distributes skilled trades-focused classroom resources and hands-on programming to schools in the U.S. and Canada, impacting more than 1M+ students from elementary through high school in 3,200+ school districts.

About Ferguson:

Ferguson (NYSE: FERG; LSE: FERG) is North America’s largest value-added distributor of essential water and air solutions, serving specialized professionals in our $340B residential and non-residential construction markets. We help make our customers’ complex projects simple, successful and sustainable by providing expertise and a wide range of products and services from plumbing, HVAC, appliances, and lighting to PVF, water and wastewater solutions, and more. Headquartered in Newport News, Va., Ferguson has sales of $31.3 billion (CY’25) and approximately 35,000 associates in over 1,700 locations.

For more information, please visit corporate.ferguson.com