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Nunez Community College Instructor, Steve Baiamonte, teaches a student in Electrical Construction, a program in which Nunez offers three different certificates and degrees. Electrical, construction, and HVAC trainings will all be enhanced at Nunez with the $1 million Gable Grant award from the Lowe’s Foundation.
Nunez Community College is awarded $1 million from The Lowe’s Foundation through the Gable Grants
program. This infusion of funds to enhance existing and launch new technical program offerings increases
opportunities for Nunez students who span more than five parishes and are preparing for high-wage, high-
demand jobs across the region.
Nunez is one of only ten community and technical colleges receiving Gable Grants during this annual
cycle. Since awarding its first grants, the foundation has expanded skilled trades career pathways through
its growing network of 35 community colleges and nonprofits in rural and urban communities across 27
states.
“This investment from the Lowe’s Foundation is transformative because it allows Nunez to bring high-
quality skilled-trades education closer to the people and communities we serve while building the
workforce our region’s industries urgently need,” said Reggie J. Poché, Interim Vice Chancellor for
Strategic Partnerships and Engagement. “As unprecedented industrial and infrastructure investment
creates new opportunities across Southeast Louisiana, we have a responsibility to ensure our residents are
prepared to benefit from that growth.”
With this monumental grant, Nunez Community College will expand its skilled-trades capacity at its main
Chalmette campus as well as through the Nunez Plaquemines Site launching this fall as the only higher
education opportunity in Plaquemines Parish. This funding will enable Nunez to enhance training spaces
and make impactful equipment purchases, as well as launching new electrical, construction, and HVAC
trainings aligned with regional housing, liquified natural gas, maritime, and other industry demands.
“This $1 million grant is an absolute game changer for our Plaquemines Parish expansion and our HVAC,
electrical, carpentry, and construction management programs,” said Adam Bourne, Senior Chair of Career
and Technical Education at Nunez. “As the construction and maintenance industry continues to rapidly
grow and evolve, the Lowe’s Foundation’s support allows us to fast-track adapting and innovating to
provide students with the tools and training they need to excel in the industry. It also allows us to increase
capacity so every potential student has a chance to train for a great career in a high-wage, high-demand
industry.”
“With enrollments rising at vocationally focused schools, these community colleges are blossoming
arenas for entrepreneurship and economic mobility,” said Janice Dupré, Lowe's Executive Vice President
of Human Resources and Chair of the Lowe’s Foundation. “Each college has a clear, inspired vision for
closing the trades gap in its community, and we’re pleased to welcome them to our larger movement.”
This fall Nunez is launching multiple new training pathways for construction to meet the regional need
for labor and leadership across the industry. Program resources and offerings will continue to grow with
the Lowe’s Foundation’s investment, but in the meantime, two new offerings, and Associate of Applied
Science in Construction Management and Technology and an Associate of Science (AS) in Construction
Leadership will begin on August 18 when fall classes kickoff. Applications and scholarship information
are available at nunez.edu.
In 2023, the Lowe’s Foundation embarked on a mission to support the training of 50,000 people in
skilled-trade careers over five years with $50 million and Nunez Community college is proud to be
included in the latest round of recipients.
About Nunez Community College
Nunez Community College is committed to being a student-centered institution that provides innovative,
relevant curricula integrating the arts, sciences, and humanities. Through this commitment, the College
prepares students for academic achievement and workforce opportunities while serving as a vital
community and industry partner dedicated to fostering student success, advancing regional economic
growth, and supporting the evolving needs of industry partners through responsive education and training.
Nunez Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Nunez Community College also may
offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the
accreditation of Nunez Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by
calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Nunez is located at 3710 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA. For more information, visit www.nunez.edu.
About the Lowe’s Foundation
The Lowe’s Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) organization founded by Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
(NYSE: LOW), is helping develop a community of skilled tradespeople to build and revitalize our homes,
neighborhoods and infrastructure for the future. From 2023 through 2027, the Lowe’s Foundation is
investing $50 million to help prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers through grants to
community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofit organizations and national nonprofit
partners with a strong local presence. To learn more about the Lowe's Foundation, visit
Lowes.com/Foundation and follow on Instagram, X, Facebook and LinkedIn.
