Northwest Technical College has been awarded the DEWALT Grow the Trades Grant to support student recruitment efforts for trade programs. The funding will expand outreach to regional students through on-campus events, school visits and community engagement initiatives.

The grant, part of DEWALT’s ongoing initiative to grow the trades workforce, will provide essential resources to enhance educational opportunities in construction and other trades-related fields. It will specifically benefit the electrical construction, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration technology and plumbing programs.

Gwen Oster, an electrician faculty member at NTC, said she is hopeful the grant will help boost enrollment by 10% across the three programs, which already enroll 115 students.

“We are excited to be a part of the initiative to recruit folks into the trades,” she said. “The projected job growth over the next 10 years in Minnesota is 10% for electricians, 8% for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians and 5.5% for plumbers.”

With an estimated 500,000 unfilled construction jobs nationwide, the DEWALT Grow the Trades Grants aim to address the widening skills gap. The program targets organizations focused on skilling, reskilling and upskilling individuals for careers in the trades, helping to bridge the shortage of trained professionals.

“DEWALT is immensely proud to support Northwest Technical College as they work to skill and reskill the tradespeople of tomorrow, moving us closer to our shared goal of closing the trade skills gap,” said Frank Mannarino, president and general manager of DEWALT. “Funding educational programs like NTC connects more people to training, resources and opportunities that will lead to successful careers in the trades.”

The initiative comes at a crucial time as the construction industry faces persistent labor shortages. A recent report from the Associated General Contractors of America found nearly 80% of construction firms struggle to find qualified workers. With programs in construction, electrical work, welding and plumbing, NTC is equipped to help meet the growing demand for skilled professionals.

The DEWALT Grow the Trades Grant is part of a broader effort to invest in the future of skilled trades and close the long-standing skills gap in the construction industry. By supporting institutions like NTC, the program aims to create pathways for more individuals to enter and succeed in the trades workforce.