Lowe's is looking to engage SkillsUSA students and teachers with store staff and local contractors. Developing a relationship between the SkillsUSA chapter or technical school and one or more local Lowe's stores can be a key component of the grant selection process. Your best contacts at a Lowe's store are the store manager, the operations manager and the commercial sales specialists.

Grant applications will detail the need for classroom improvements, upgrading or providing tangible tools for learning technical skills, leadership development opportunities, or providing for competition clothing that will give students the opportunity to compete at SkillsUSA events that would otherwise be unattainable. In addition, those applicants who can outline their plan to "pay it forward" by planning and implementing a project or event that will allow them to use the tools or skills obtained due to receiving the grant dollars, will stand a greater chance of receiving funding. The best projects will detail how the outcome will provide a life changing experience for the beneficiaries of the grant dollars.