Lowe’s rings in centennial with $10 million ‘Hometowns’ project

How it works: Now through April 19, people can nominate a project for a grant from Mooresville-based Lowe’s. The company will award the grants in June, and will complete the projects by the end of the year.

• Eligible project types range from community spaces like parks and youth centers) to neighborhood housing to cultural preservation.
• Anyone can nominate a project here.

Lowe’s is kicking off the “100 Hometowns” launch with award-winning country music star Kane Brown. Years ago, Brown would practice his singing while working at a Lowe’s store in Hixson, Tennessee.

• The first project will be $100,000 in renovations and repairs at the East Lake Boys & Girls Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee — Brown’s hometown.

Why it matters: Lowe’s grew from a little hardware store in North Wilkesboro to the second-biggest home improvement retailer in the world. A surge in demand during the pandemic helped fuel sales at Lowe’s to a record $89.6 billion last year.

• The “100 Hometowns” effort is a way to give back “as communities come together and regain their footing,” Lowe’s said in a statement.

“We just want to be there for our communities,” Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison told Axios Charlotte last week.