The Global Impact Challenge will reskill more than 200,000 makers and trade professionals in 2023
February 2023, Morgantown, WV – Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) announced the recipients of its
second Global Impact Challenge. West Virginia Women Work is honored to have been named as a
Makers Grant Recipient for our efforts to help women explore, train, and secure employment in
nontraditional occupations, especially the skilled trades.
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. West Virginia Women Work was selected as
one of 91 organizations that will help skill and reskill roughly 210,448 makers throughout 2023.
“We are proud to be Empower Makers and so thankful to Stanley Black & Decker for investing in our
mission.” said Carol Phillips, Executive Director at West Virginia Women Work.
“We will use the funds to support our Step Up for Women Construction program in 2023 and offer the
program tuition free. Our goal is not only to provide skilled trades training to women, but to empower
them to be makers in our community.”
“Stanley Black & Decker is immensely proud to support West Virginia Women Work 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, please visit EmpowerMakers.com.
About West Virginia Women Work
West Virginia Women Work, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, strives to help women in West Virginia earn a living
wage. The primary focus of the organization’s activities is to help women explore, train, and secure
employment in nontraditional occupations, especially the skilled trades. WVWW provides support
programs, career coaching services, education services, and workshops to prepare women for
employment in high skills, high wage nontraditional careers. These services align with our mission of
Supporting and advocating for the education, employment, and economic equity of all women.
About Stanley Black & Decker
Headquartered in the USA, Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) is the world’s largest tool company
operating nearly 50 manufacturing facilities across America and more than 100 worldwide. Guided by its
purpose – for those who make the world – the company’s more than 60,000 diverse and high-performing
employees produce innovative, award-winning power tools, hand tools, storage, digital tool
solutions, lifestyle products, outdoor products, engineered fasteners and other industrial equipment to
support the world’s makers, creators, tradespeople and builders. The company’s iconic brands include
DEWALT®, BLACK+DECKER®, CRAFTSMAN®, STANLEY®, CUB CADET®, HUSTLER® and TROY-BILT®.
Recognized for its leadership in environmental, social and governance (ESG), Stanley Black & Decker
strives to be a force for good in support of its communities, employees, customers and other
stakeholders. To learn more visit: www.stanleyblackanddecker.com.
