Funded by the BBB, Central New England’s Consumer Education Foundation, this scholarship is designed to support students pursuing a trades career after high school by offsetting some of the costs associated with getting a job in the trades, such as tools and protective clothing.
Scholarship information
The Better Business Bureau of Central New England wants to support young people who choose to pursue a skilled trades profession. At the same time, we understand that there are expenses involved in getting a job in the trades, including tools, protective clothing, and other equipment. Established in 2026, the BBB Trades Scholarship aims to offset some of those costs while encouraging the next generation of workers to seek out trustworthy employers in the region.
Unlike a college scholarship, which sends the money to a school, the BBB Trades Scholarship will directly reimburse students for job-related expenses like tools, tool belts, and work clothing. In the inaugural year of 2026, we expect payouts to range between $50 and $1000 depending on the need.
Applications must include the scholarship amount requested and a description of the items to be purchased with the funds. Reimbursements will only be provided for purchases listed in this section and approved by the selection committee. The application also includes a short, written section, where applicants are asked to explain (up to 500 words) why they’ve chosen a career in this specific trade.
Eligibility
Applicants must be working for, or have accepted an offer of employment from, a BBB Accredited Business located within the BBB of Central New England's service area (Central & Western MA and Northeastern CT). You can find out if a business is BBB Accredited at BBB.org. We will verify employment.
Additionally, applicants must:
- Be 20 years old or younger
- Have been working in the trades for 12 months or less (hired after 4/6/2025)
- Reside in and attend school (or have already graduated from a school) in the 225 communities served by the BBB of Central New England.
Eligible trades include:
- Construction Trades (including plumbing, electrical, roofing, concrete, etc.)
- Welding
- Landscaping
- Painting
- Heating and Cooling
- Auto Repair
- Machinery Repair
- Tool & Die
- Pest Control
- Tree Removal
- Other trades will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Application timeline
- Applications open April 6, 2026.
- Applications close June 30, 2026.
- Awardees will be announced on or around July 31, 2026.
2026 scholarship donors
This inaugural scholarship is being made possible by earmarked donations to the BBB of Central New England’s Consumer Education Foundation from more than a dozen Accredited Businesses. We’re grateful for the generosity of the following businesses for their investment in this next generation of the workforce!
.png)
.png)
Our service region
The Better Business Bureau of Central New England serves Central Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts, and seven towns in Northeastern Connecticut: Woodstock, Thompson, Eastford, Pomfret, Putman, Killingly, and Brooklyn.
About the BBB of Central New England Consumer Education Foundation
The BBB of Central New England Consumer Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting consumer education, trust, and ethical business practices within the community. Founded to support the consumer education initiatives of BBB, the Foundation is funded through donations from BBB-accredited businesses.
The Foundation’s initiatives include:
Fraud-awareness presentations for older adults, students, employees, and local service organizations.
Information tables at home shows, expos, and financial literacy events.
Scholarships for veterans and high school students.
For more information or to donate, please contact our team at info@cne.bbb.org or 508-755-3340.
About BBB
For more than 110 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. The International Association of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the nearly 100 local, independent BBBs in the United States and Canada. BBB of Central New England was founded in 1945 and serves 225 communities in Worcester, Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Berkshire counties, as well as parts of Middlesex County, and seven towns in Northeastern Connecticut.