Young woman smiles at the camera while driving manufacturing equipment. She is wearing a hard hat with the name "Anita" on it, protective glasses and protective headphones and work gloves.
 

The Dow Last Mile Fund for Manufacturing & Skilled Trades

The Dow Last Mile Fund for Manufacturing & Skilled Trades aims to increase program completion among students pursuing careers in manufacturing and skilled trades programs at institutions in communities near Dow sites.

The Fund aims to create a more robust, diverse, and readily-available technical talent pipeline and help increase students' career earnings and social mobility.

Qualified students are eligible for all three of Last Mile’s core grants: Rapid-response emergency financial assistance (mini-grants), Bridge grants, and larger Last Mile grants, all to support their educational progress and help overcome unexpected financial obstacles.

This funding opportunity is open to students of all genders.

Manufacturing and skilled trades students at institutions in the following communities are eligible to apply:

 

Eligible Majors:

  • AAS Electrical Concentration

  • AAS Mechanical Concentration

  • Analyzer Technology

  • Applied Process Technology

  • Chemical Laboratory Technology

  • Chemical Process Technology

  • Commercial Electrical Technology

  • Electrical Technology

  • Electromechanical Technology

  • Electronic Instrumentation

  • Engineering Technology

  • Environmental Technology

  • Instrument & Electrical Technician

  • Industrial Technology

  • Instrument & Electrical

  • Instrumentation Technology

  • Laboratory Technician

  • Millwright or Pipefitter

  • Millwright/Machine Repair

  • Occupational Safety and Health

  • Pipe Welding

  • Process Technology

  • Welding or Structural Welding

    *In some cases, students pursuing Biology, Chemistry or Chemical Engineering might be accepted as those majors provide immediate employability for Laboratory Technicians.

  • Students of all genders in the following Dow communities:

    California

    • Hayward

    Chabot Community College

    Illinois

    • Elk Grove

    • Kankakee

    • Ringwood

    Kankakee Community College, South Suburban College

    Indiana

    • Kendallville

    Kentucky

    • Carrollton

    • Elizabethtown

    • Louisville

    Elizabethtown Technical and Community College, Jefferson Community & Technical College

    Louisiana

    • St. Charles, St. James and St. John’s parishes

    • Plaquemine

    • St. Charles

    River Parishes Community College, Delgado College, ITI College

    Michigan

    • Midland

    • Auburn

    • Bay

    • Saginaw

    Delta Community College

    Pennsylvania

    • Bristol

    • Croydon

    Bucks County Community College, Delaware County Community College

    Tennessee

    • Knoxville

    Roane State Community College

    Texas

    • Houston

    • Orange

    • Port Arthur

    • Rosenberg

    Brazosport College, College of the Mainland, Texas City, Lamar State College (Orange, Port Arthur), Lamar Institute of Technology, Texas State Technical College, San Jacinto College, Victoria College

    West Virginia

    • Charleston

    • South Charleston

    • Institute

    • Nitro

    Bridge Valley Community, Technical University, West Virginia State University

    And who are:

    • U.S. citizens or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients;

    • in pursuit of a career in manufacturing and skilled trades;

    • able to demonstrate financial need.

  • Emergency Financial Assistance

    • Up to $595

    • Assists with basic needs such as food, transportation, housing, and connectivity.

    Bridge Grants

    • $600-$3,000

    • Bridges potentially catastrophic financial hurdles that could prevent progress to degree completion.

    • Enables career-building opportunities.

    Last Mile Grants

    • Up to $5,000

    • Assists in covering tuition and expenses for the final credits to degree completion.

    • A current transcript showing your name and major

    • A financial aid award letter showing your name or other documentation demonstrating evidence of need

    • A LinkedIn profile with a profile picture

    • A U.S.-based email address

    • Complete the online application with the documents listed above

    • Schedule and complete an interview, if requesting Bridge or Last Mile funding

    • Provide information on where payments should be sent, if requested

    • Sign a fund agreement through DocuSign & fill out tax forms (W9 or W8)

    Your responsiveness will help us to get funds to you promptly. If you respond promptly throughout the process, the time between application and receiving funds is typically 14-21 days.

    Please be sure to check you SPAM for our emails and set your spam filter accordingly, so that you don’t miss our communications!

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Are you a faculty or community member who would like to recommend a student? Nominate them here.


The Dow Last Mile Fund for Manufacturing & Skilled Trades is made possible by Dow