As our American economy transforms in the information age, the interest in a career in the skilled trades has been in decline for over a decade. According to the Stanley Black & Decker Makers Index, released in 2022, 85% of young people think that skilled trade work is a good quality career option in general, yet fewer than 16% are likely to seriously consider a skilled trade career.
With demand for residential services such as plumbing and electrical work up 130% since 2020, the need for young workers entering the industry is reaching critical levels. Thanks to the Longleaf Commitment Grant, NC high school graduates are able to attend two years of community college tuition free, but this does not remove all barriers to entering the industry as a new skilled trades professional. Electricians, Plumbers, and HVAC techs are hired with the expectation that they will start the job with their own tools, and equipping a professional toolkit can be cost prohibitive for young workers just joining the job force.
Gwyn Services has partnered with the Shallowford Foundation and Forsyth Technical Community College to endow the Daniel Boles Memorial Tools for the Trades Scholarship which awards 3 graduates each from the Forsyth Tech HVAC, Electric, and Plumbing certificate programs with a fully equipped tool kit, valued at $500 to jump start their new career. This annual scholarship is awarded each fall, and donors may contribute to the scholarship fund with a tax-deductible designated contribution to the Shallowford Foundation.
