The company has made a substantial commitment to research, capital investment, and workforce development, positioning the U.S. for the future.
Stanley Black & Decker has announced a major initiative to support American manufacturing and workforce development.
The New Britain, Connecticut-based company announced plans to invest $1 billion in the United States through 2028 to achieve several goals. They include accelerating innovation, strengthening domestic production capabilities, and supporting the skilled trades workforce needed to build the nation’s infrastructure.
The investment will be divided between research and development and capital investments in its U.S. operations. It is tied to growing demand for advanced tools, technologies, and productivity solutions across the construction and manufacturing industries.
The announcement is timely, as the construction sector faces a significant labor shortage.
For example, nearly half a million additional workers are expected to be needed by 2027. While companies in related sectors, both large and small, face constraints on growth for the same reason.
$500 Million Targeted Toward Research and Development
Approximately half of Stanley Black & Decker’s planned $1 billion investment will be directed toward research and development. The remaining approximately $500 million will fund capital expenditures and other long-term investments.
The goal is to strengthen the company’s U.S. manufacturing footprint and advance new product development.
Stanley Black & Decker President and CEO Chris Nelson said the strategy extends beyond expanding domestic manufacturing capacity.
“Our U.S. investment strategy has multiple dimensions and goes far beyond expanding manufacturing — it’s about igniting innovation, building world-class capabilities, and redefining the future of work in America,” Nelson said.
With this in place, the company expects its investments in research, technology and manufacturing capabilities to help tradespeople work more safely and productively while addressing increasingly complex infrastructure and construction demands.
DEWALT Grow the Trades Initiative Expands Workforce Training
Stanley Black & Decker is also continuing its efforts to address the skilled labor shortage through its DEWALT Grow the Trades initiative.
To support its efforts, the company has committed to investing $60 million through 2030 in programs designed to expand skilled trades training and create additional pathways into careers in construction and related fields. Approximately $27 million of that commitment has already been deployed.
This supports a key challenge facing companies—having enough trained workers. They are needed to operate equipment, manage projects, and perform increasingly specialized work.
By combining technological innovation with workforce development, Stanley Black & Decker is positioning itself to address both sides of that equation.
Strengthening the U.S. Manufacturing Base
The investment also represents a significant vote of confidence in the future of American manufacturing.
National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons said Stanley Black & Decker’s commitment could have an impact beyond the company’s own operations. It will help strengthen manufacturing communities and create new economic opportunities.
“For more than 180 years, Stanley Black & Decker has helped define what it means to make things in America — innovating, investing and creating opportunities for manufacturing workers and the communities they serve,” Timmons said.
It is based on Stanley Black & Decker, tracing its history to 1843. The company has grown to over 41,000 people worldwide. It operates manufacturing facilities globally and produces power tools, hand tools, storage products, digital jobsite solutions, outdoor products, and engineered fasteners.
Its portfolio includes some of the most recognizable brands in the tools and equipment market. They include DEWALT, CRAFTSMAN, STANLEY, BLACK+DECKER, and Cub Cadet.
As federal, state, and private investment continues to drive infrastructure construction across the United States, Stanley Black & Decker’s $1 billion commitment highlights the increasingly interconnected roles of manufacturing, technology, and workforce development.
For the company, the strategy is designed to do more than expand production capacity. It will also develop the tools and skilled workforce required to support the next generation of American construction and infrastructure projects.
