Bring Back the Trades Launches National Tool Grant Program with Milwaukee Tool
Key Highlights
- National grant program equips vocational schools with professional-grade trade tools
- Monthly awards provide direct classroom impact across multiple skilled trades
- Initiative supports long-term workforce development and closing the skilled trades gap
RYE, NH — Bring Back the Trades, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on closing the skilled trades gap, has launched the Bring Back the Trades Tool Grant Program, a national initiative designed to equip vocational classrooms with professional-grade tools.
“If we want the next generation to respect the trades, we have to give them tools worth respecting,” said Steve Turner, Founder of Bring Back the Trades. “Across the country, vocational programs are often forced to teach with broken or inadequate equipment. By putting professional tools in the hands of students, we show them that their education and their future careers are worth the highest standard of excellence.”
Program Targets Workforce Gap Through Hands-On Investment
The initiative is designed to address the estimated $325.6 billion skilled trades gap by reducing financial barriers that limit schools’ ability to modernize training environments.
Grant applicants can select tool kits aligned with core curriculum areas, including plumbing, electrical, automotive and carpentry training programs.
Monthly Grant Structure Delivers Direct Classroom Impact
Each month, one organization will be selected to receive a tool kit, which will be shipped directly to the winning school or nonprofit for immediate integration into classroom instruction and training programs.
Key program elements include:
- Monthly awards to eligible public schools and nonprofits
- Direct shipment of professional-grade tools to selected programs
- Curriculum-aligned tool kits across multiple trade disciplines
- Emphasis on safety, maintenance and craftsmanship standards
Winning organizations may reapply every six months and are eligible to receive funding once every three years. Additional trades are expected to be added as the program expands.
Professional-Grade Tools Align Training with Jobsite Standards
Milwaukee Tool will supply professional-grade equipment designed to mirror the tools used on modern jobsites, replacing outdated or consumer-level equipment commonly found in vocational programs.
“When students train with the same tools used on professional jobsites, it changes how they see their future in the trades,” said Scott Teson, Senior Vice President of Skilled Trades at Milwaukee Tool. “Our partnership with Bring Back the Trades is about removing barriers to entry and helping the next generation build real skills from day one.”
Long-Term Investment in Skilled Trades Workforce Development
Milwaukee Tool is supporting the program through 2026 as part of its broader investment in workforce development and skilled trades education.
The company reports investing more than $10 million annually in hands-on training initiatives, supporting over 600 apprentice graduations in 2025 and donating more than $4.5 million in equipment to trade schools nationwide.
This initiative aligns with Milwaukee Tool’s broader commitment to invest $200 million in the trades by 2030, focused on expanding access to training and strengthening the long-term skilled workforce pipeline.
To learn more about Bring Back the Trades, visit BBTT.org.
To learn more about Milwaukee Tool, visit www.milwaukeetool.com.