LOWE’S AND LOWE’S FOUNDATION COMMIT $3 MILLION TO REVITALIZE WEST CHARLOTTE WITH SKILLED TRADES CENTER, CAREER PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

Multi-year commitment includes collaboration with the Renaissance West Community Initiative (RWCI)

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 20, 2021) — Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) and the Lowe’s Foundation announce today a multi-year commitment to improve economic mobility in the Renaissance West neighborhood by supporting life navigation and coaching programs, increasing accessibility to technology and promoting skilled trades workforce development. The three-year project, which represents a commitment of $3 million, will create an onsite skilled trades training center, support career programs to increase digital and financial literacy and improve the community through revitalization projects.

“I want to thank Lowe’s for making such a significant investment in our community,” said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “This funding will have a tremendous impact on the lives of many residents and families because of the long-term opportunities this great program will create. From housing stability to workforce development, this program will ensure that our residents are positioned for success as our city continues to attract new industries and job opportunities.”

In 2020, the Renaissance West Community Initiative (RWCI) was designated as a HUD EnVision Center. 

“HUD congratulates The Renaissance West Community Initiative for this extraordinary accomplishment as it epitomizes what can be achieved through innovative public and private partnerships,” said Michael L. Browder, Region IV Deputy Regional Administrator at U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “We are pleased that our collaborative efforts played a role in bringing the partnership with the Renaissance West Community Initiative to fruition, helping to connect people with the services and tools necessary to achieve self-sufficiency.”

“Thank you to the wonderful team at Lowe’s for supporting RWCI in such an impactful way,” said Mack McDonald, CEO at Renaissance West Community Initiative. “This multi-year gift enables us to sustain and expand important place-based, holistic, wrap-around services for residents in the neighborhoods served by Renaissance West Community Initiative.”

“We are incredibly grateful for this partnership with Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Foundation,” said Bill Currens, RWCI Board Chair. “This pledge is the largest corporate gift in the short history of RWCI.  A commitment of this magnitude is a testament to the importance of the work the RWCI team performs each day to end intergenerational poverty and provide opportunity to a historically underserved and marginalized area of Charlotte.” 

“Charlotte is our hometown and we are committed to making a difference by focusing on two things we know well: creating safe, affordable housing and supporting skilled trades,” said Janice Dupré, Lowe’s executive vice president, human resources. “This partnership with RWCI is a model of how we can improve economic mobility in the region and create meaningful and lasting change through programs aimed at increasing homeownership and career growth.”

Spearheaded by the RWCI, the projects will support the organization’s goals to revitalize the community and end intergenerational poverty. Projects, classified as Housing Stability, Workforce Development and Neighborhood Improvement, include:

  • Expanding life navigation or coaching programs to help residents in the Renaissance West neighborhood, Little Rock Apartments and families attending the Renaissance West STEAM Academy meet their educational, career and financial goals
  • Creating an onsite training center focused on developing career pathways in skilled trades and technology in partnership with Central Piedmont Community College
  • Increasing neighborhood volunteerism to support the Renaissance West STEAM Academy, the Howard Levine Child Development Center, and more

Future projects and details will be announced at a later date. For more information about Lowe’s support for our communities, visit newsroom.lowes.com. 

About Lowe’s 

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 20 million customers a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2020 sales of nearly $90 billion, Lowe’s and its related businesses operate or service more than 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.