students posing with tools

Stanley Black and Decker recently announced the recipients of its second Global Impact Challenge. For the second straight year, we’re honored to have been named as a $50,000 Makers Grant Recipient for our efforts to invest in new tools and equipment to enhance our Automotive Technology, Building Services & Ground Maintenance, Construction Trades, HVAC and Welding Technology programs.

Initiated in 2021, the Global Impact Challenge grant program will award up to $25 million in grant funding over five years to nonprofits that are supporting trade workforce development initiatives in the construction and manufacturing sectors. With the first applications submitted in 2022, 182 entrants were evaluated based on number of people served, outcomes projected, sustainable impact, depth of programs, and diversity, among many other considerations. Polaris was selected as one of 91 organizations that will help skill and reskill roughly 210,448 makers throughout 2023.

“Stanley Black & Decker is immensely proud to support Polaris Career Center as they work to skill and reskill the next generation of trade professionals,” said Stanley Black & Decker Corporate Responsibility Officer, Deb Geyer.  “Currently in the U.S., there are an estimated 650,000 open construction jobs and 10 million unfilled manufacturing jobs globally.  Our purpose is to support ‘Those Who Make the World,’ and being able to fund educational programs and non-profits that are revitalizing trade careers directly connects to our core mission. Thanks to this year’s Makers Grant Recipients, together we will be one step closer to closing the trade skills gap.”

To learn more about Stanley Black & Decker’s Global Impact Challenge, the 2022 recipients and how non-profits may submit for the upcoming application period, visit EmpowerMakers.com.

Thank you, Stanley Black & Decker, for this generous award!