Carhartt reaffirmed its commitment to skilled workers by launching the Steel Apple Awards, an extension of its For the Love of Labor program. Announced in Dearborn, Michigan, the initiative honors educators shaping the next generation of tradespeople.

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Todd Corley, Carhartt’s Senior Vice President of Inclusion, Sustainability, and Community, emphasized the importance of mentors in the skilled trades, calling them “builders of futures” and “champions of craftsmanship.” The inaugural awards recognized five educators—Matthew Bracey, Aaron Haselwood, Robert “Bobby” Pease, Bryan Suarez, and Jennifer McNally. Each received $10,000 for their classrooms along with tailored Carhartt workwear, and their students were also outfitted with new gear.

Since its founding in 2020, the For the Love of Labor program has awarded nearly $3 million in grants. For the Spring 2025 grant, Carhartt will provide $100,000 to the National Center of Construction Education & Research, a nonprofit focused on construction training, assessment, credentials, and career development programs.