Lowe’s big hometown investment
Lowe’s today announced a five-year, $100 million investment in the communities it serves – the company’s largest-ever commitment of its kind – with a new community impact program called Lowe’s Hometowns.
“Each day, our associates and neighbors come together to help build and strengthen their communities. With this investment through Lowe’s Hometowns, we are demonstrating our commitment to make homes – and hometowns – better for those in need,” said Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe’s chairman and CEO.
The effort begins, the firm said, with the launch of a new annual initiative that invites people nationwide to visit Lowes.com/hometowns now through March 28 to nominate a deserving project in their hometowns.
Each year from 2022 through 2026, Lowe’s Hometowns will complete nearly 1,800 community impact projects, said the company, including 100 signature projects chosen from consumer nominations, and nearly 1,700 projects selected through Lowe’s stores across the country.
“We look forward to working with communities across the country to make sure that our investments serve their needs and have a positive impact that lasts for years to come,” said Ellison.
Lowe’s will select 100 projects this year as part of Lowe’s Hometowns and partner with community members and Lowe’s associates to revitalize spaces such as neighborhood housing, parks, community centers and more.
The commitment is part of Lowe’s goal to make homes better for all and builds on the success of its work with the 100 Hometowns program in 2021, which revitalized 100 community spaces and positively impacted more than 1.3 million people in honor of the company’s centennial anniversary.
Lowe’s is partnering with designer, author, and Emmy-nominated host Bobby Berk, who will serve as Lowe’s Hometowns Ambassador, to execute this year’s program, said the retailer. One nominated project will have the chance to be personally designed by Berk, bringing his design expertise and passion for giving back to help those in need.
Additionally, to kick off Lowe’s Hometowns, Berk has nominated My Friend’s Place, a shelter in Los Angeles that offers comprehensive services to homeless youth, and he will oversee a refreshed design that will make the facility more comfortable and inviting for young people experiencing homelessness.
Lowe’s said it will partner with Berk and impact partner Points of Light to select and support the projects that will be undertaken as part of this year's program.
Eligible project types include neighborhood housing, skilled trades education facilities, community centers and outdoor spaces. Selected projects will be announced this summer, with project work to begin shortly thereafter.
Lowe’s Companies, Inc., based in Mooresville, N.C., serves approximately 19 million customer transactions a week in the U.S. and Canada, has fiscal year 2021 sales of over $96 billion, operates or services nearly 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores, and employ over 300,000 associates.