Grainger, a broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products serving businesses and institutions, announced it awarded special one-time grants to the six community colleges most active in the Grainger Tools for Tomorrow®scholarship program. Grant awards were based on the top three community colleges with the most students earning Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarships overall during the last 10 years, and the top three community colleges with the most veterans earning Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarships.

“Congratulations to these six schools,” said Grainger Chairman, President and CEO, Jim Ryan. “The Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program started with seven community colleges in 2006, and now includes 125 schools. We began this program to support the evolving opportunities of skilled trade workers. Today, the skilled trades offer exciting, long-term careers that require advanced problem-solving skills, science, technology and math knowledge. Through our Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program, we are proud to do our part in helping qualified technical education and public safety students graduate.”

Each year, Grainger works with the American Association of Community Colleges to offer two scholarships of $2,000 each at 125 community colleges in the U.S. The scholarships are awarded to students in skilled trade and public safety programs such as plumbing, welding, automotive, construction, fire safety and law enforcement.  Half of the scholarships offered are earmarked for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition to the scholarship, Grainger provides tools to students after they graduate to help them launch a successful career. Since 2006, Grainger has donated more than $3.1 million to support technical education.

The top three community colleges with the most students earning Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarships overall during the last 10 years are:

• Community College of Baltimore County (17 scholarships)
• St. Louis Community College (17 scholarships)
• Cincinnati State Technical & Community College (16 scholarships)

The top three community colleges with the most veterans earning Grainger Tools for Tomorrow scholarships are:

• Lee College in Baytown, Texas (11 veteran scholarships)
• American River College in Sacramento, California (9 veteran scholarships)
• Bellingham Technical College in Bellingham, Washington (9 veteran scholarships)

These six schools received more than $8,000 each through this one-time grant. Grant awards are based on proceeds from merchandise sold at the Grainger Store during the 2016 Grainger Show.