Workwear brand supports the nonprofit’s mission to connect current and aspiring technicians to scholarships, training and critical career resources across all trades industries

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Carhartt, America’s premium workwear brand since 1889, today announced a $160,000 grant through its “For the Love of Labor” program to TechForce Foundation, a national nonprofit helping students pursue careers as professional technicians.

The grant will support TechForce Foundation programs that provide aspiring and active automotive technicians with resources including scholarships, hands-on training aids, industry connections and career development programs. By addressing financial and educational barriers, the funding will help prepare students for rewarding careers as automotive technicians.

“Carhartt has a long-standing commitment to supporting the skilled trades and the organizations helping to prepare the next generation for successful careers,” said Todd Corley, Chief People & Impact Officer at Carhartt. “Through our grant to TechForce Foundation, we’re helping expand access to the financial support, tools and training that aspiring technicians need to confidently enter the workforce – ultimately creating pathways for students to launch successful careers and build brighter futures for themselves, their families and their communities.”  

Filling the Gap: Investing in the Next Generation of Technicians
America is facing a significant shortage of trained automotive technicians. According to TechForce Foundation’s 2026 Technician Supply, Demand & Opportunity Report, the U.S. needs nearly 71,000 new-entrant automotive technicians each year, while the current training pipeline is projected to meet only about 71% of that demand¹. The report projects an annual gap of more than 20,000 automotive technicians.

TechForce Foundation helps students navigate the path from education to employment by connecting them with resources, mentorship and industry relationships needed to launch careers as professional technicians. Through scholarships, training resources and career development programs, the organization supports students from their first interest in the trades through their transition into the workforce.

“The technician shortage is one of our industry’s biggest challenges and solutions start with supporting the students who will become the next generation of skilled technicians,” said Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation. “Carhartt’s ‘For the Love of Labor’ grant will put tools in the hands of students, while easing the financial hurdles that too often stand in the way of pursuing a skilled trades career. This partnership isn’t just about filling job vacancies – it’s about opening doors for hardworking people to build successful, lifelong careers that keep our communities and country moving forward.”

Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce
Launched in 2022, For the Love of Labor reflects Carhartt’s longstanding commitment to supporting organizations that educate, train and place workers in skilled trades careers.

Since its inception, the grant program has received hundreds of applications and awarded 28 grants totaling nearly $3.7 million to eligible U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations in recognized apprenticeship industries that serve at least 100 individuals annually. With Carhartt’s funding, recipient organizations have been able to provide people entering the skilled trades with durable gear, tools, childcare and transportation. Several recipient organizations have also added new programs, instructors, resources, and ultimately, graduated more apprenticeship students that are equipped to close the country’s skilled trades gap. 

To learn more about the For the Love of Labor grant program and how Carhartt is working to build a better world, please visit Carhartt.com/jointhetrades or reach out to ForTheLoveOfLabor@Carhartt.com.

¹ TechForce Foundation, 2026 Supply, Demand & Opportunity Report

About Carhartt
Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium workwear brand with a rich heritage of developing durable products for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, with approximately 3,000 employees worldwide, Carhartt is family-owned and managed by the descendants of the company’s founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.carhartt.com.

About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation is a national not-for-profit 501(c)(3) transforming how students pursue skilled technician careers. Through its modern workforce development platform, TechForce guides more than 100,000 students and working technicians along their career journey, connecting them to more than $6.5 million in annual scholarships, wraparound support, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities. Operating in all 50 states and U.S. territories and partnering with more than 1,400 schools, TechForce champions technicians across industries, including automotive, diesel, collision repair, aviation, marine, motorcycle, HVAC, welding, and emerging technologies. As a scalable, data-driven ecosystem, TechForce connects talent to opportunity at every stage of the workforce pipeline. For more information, visit techforce.org.

Media Contact:
Alex DiFilippo
Carhartt, Inc.
adifilippo@carhartt.com

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