Lowe’s Grant Program
2013
Carol Lowery
Lowe’s Grant Manager
2013 Grant Opportunities
1. CareerSafe Vouchers
2. State TeamWorks
3. Schools In Need
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CareerSafe Vouchers
• Allow students to take an online
assessment and earn their OSHA 10-Hour
Construction or General Industry safety
credentials
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CareerSafe Vouchers
• September 30, 2012. Vouchers currently in use
must be completed by that date or they will
expire.
• 6 months to complete once logged into the
system, not one year from date of issued (as in
the past)
• All vouchers are awarded, but many go unused.
• For 2013, Directors will be provided a list of
voucher recipients.
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State TeamWorks
Past
• States received funds based on # of teams
expected to compete
• Prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd for HS and PS
2013
• Applications and process
• Still detailing how grant funds will be distributed
• Secure sponsorship for prizes
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Schools in Need
Lowe’s Focus!
•To identify schools, classrooms or students who
have a very basic need to improve the quality of
the student’s educational experience.
•Place the dollars in the hands of those who have
no other means for obtaining funds.
•Eligibility for free and reduced lunch in the school
population is a key indicator of need.
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State Directors Role
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We need your help
Identify schools
Encourage SkillsUSA Chapter to apply
Lead them to and through the grant
application process
• High profile opportunity for Lowe’s
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Grant Funds
• Grant awards $2,500 to $25,000
• Bigger projects with greater impact
• Lowe’s wants to align with technical trade
areas that their business supports
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Three Focus Areas
• 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.
.
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Pay IT – Play IT Forward
• 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
grant funds.
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Best Applications
Detail how the outcome will provide a life
changing experience for the beneficiaries of
the grant dollars!
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Classroom Upgrade/Renovation
• Describe what you have now, how it will change,
how many students and/or programs will benefit.
• What will be the impact on the students now as
well as in the future.
• How might this upgrade or new classroom
provide an opportunity for the students to share
this experience or classroom with others?
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Tools/Equipment/Materials
• Tell the age of the existing tools/equipment or
why new tools/equipment/materials are needed.
• Describe how the upgrade/purchase would
impact students or meet industry standards.
• How many students will benefit from the
upgrade?
• How will students use the tools, equipment or
materials to implement a service project for their
school or community?
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Leadership Development or
Competition Clothing
• Who will benefit?
• What has been the past experience in these
areas?
• How will participating in this event, training or
contest impact the students?
• How will students use this experience to help
other students or grow their local SkillsUSA
chapter?
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Grant Timeline
• September 1, 2012
Grant application posted to website
• November 1, 2012
Application deadline!
• January 10, 2013
Announce winning grant recipients
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Selection Process
• Applications are reviewed and scored
by SkillsUSA selection team
• Lowe’s chooses the final winners.
• Specific Rubric for scoring (Rubric
posted on website!)
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Selection Criteria
• 60%-70% on basic need and project
impact
• 30%-40% on application clarity,
budget detail, and project planning,
development and implementation
strategies
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Basic Need for Greater Impact
• Tell your story from the heart!
• Support your story with the facts and details.
• How can you expand the use of your grant dollars
beyond the initial investment?
• How can you create a unique learning experience for
your students that will engage them in developing
leadership or technical skills?
• “If we receive these grant dollars, this is what will
happen.”
• Think Need! Think impact! Think BIG!
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Write Award Winning Project
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Review application
Complete in it’s entirety
Be specific, meaningful and succinct
Think about WHAT you’re going to do
for your project and then HOW you’re
going to tell your story and plan!
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Grant Application
• Tell your story and how it will impact the
recipients!
• Include a detailed project description
• Look for opportunities to involve local Lowe’s.
• Create achievable timelines
• Include detailed budget and media plan
• Have application reviewed by someone who
is not involved in the project
• Have application reviewed for correctness
and completeness
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Send Thank-you’s
Kimberly Beal
Lowe's Companies
Community Relations
1000 Lowe's Blvd-NB5RP
Mooresville, NC 28117
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Thank you!
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SkillsUSA
Carol Lowery
clowery@skillsusa.org
641-512-0504
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