Alma Center – The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced today that the School District of Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan is the recipient of a state grant to fund new fabrication laboratory (fab lab) facilities, which will equip Wisconsin students with essential skills for the 21st century’s global economy. The School District of Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan] was awarded $24,816 to create a fab lab. Along with the grant funds, Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC is donating an additional $10,000 to go towards the development of the fab lab.
“WEDC has invested over $3.4 million for the past six years to provide 95 school districts across the state with the equipment necessary to help students learn high-demand skills, including technology, manufacturing and engineering,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC. “Fab labs benefit not only the students themselves with important technology and career skills, but they also benefit Wisconsin employers, who will be able to find workers with the right skills to allow their companies to grow and thrive.”
Including the School District of Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan, 28 school districts throughout the state are being awarded a total of $635,089 in Fab Labs Grants this year to establish or expand their fab labs.
WEDC’s Fab Labs Grant Program is designed to support hands-on learning in the subjects of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) by assisting public school districts with equipment purchases such as 3D printers, laser engravers, computer numerical control routers and plasma cutters for instructional and educational purposes.
“We feel that the development of this Fab Lab at Lincoln Jr/Sr High School will provide our students, as well as our community members, an opportunity to develop an understanding of modern manufacturing technologies. The partnerships that will be developed with local manufacturers through this Fab Lab is something we are looking forward to and will be a great benefit for all involved. We are very excited for the career opportunities this could lead to for our students as well.” stated Paul Fischer, Superintendent for the School District of Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan.
Fab labs have the potential to benefit individual students, school districts, the surrounding community and Wisconsin’s economy as a whole. For more information, visit WEDC’s fab lab resource page or follow #WIFabLab on Twitter.
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About the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) leads economic development efforts for the state by advancing and maximizing opportunities in Wisconsin for businesses, communities and people to thrive in a globally competitive environment. Working with more than 600 regional and local partners, WEDC develops and delivers solutions representative of a highly responsive and coordinated economic development network. Visit wedc.org or follow WEDC on Twitter @WEDCNews to learn more.