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CONNECTING AND EXPLORING MANUFACTURING IN WISCONSIN
anufacturing SPRING 2025
anufacturing

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Exploring Manufacturing in Wisconsin

Nearly a Half Million in Fab Lab Grants Awarded to 20 Wisconsin Schools

On May 1st the • School District of Monroe: $25,000
state announced that • Ellsworth Community School Dis-
nearly $500,000 in trict: $25,000
Fab Lab grants will be
awarded to 20 Wiscon- • Westosha Central High School Dis-
sin school districts to trict: $25,000
train students in science, technology, engi- • Pewaukee School District: $24,176
neering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) WEDC received 29 total applica-
skills and prepare them for careers using tions for Fab Lab Grants. The grants were
advanced technologies through establishing awarded on a first-come, first-served basis,
or expanding local fabrication laboratory with applications evaluated based on readi-
(fab lab) facilities. ness and long-range planning, curriculum,
business and community partnerships,
How It Works financial need, and previous awards.
The Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab) For more information on the Fab Lab
program is designed to support hands-on grants, including resources for teachers,
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and to apply visit wedc.org/fablabs
and Math (STEAM) education by assist- For more information about the
ing public school districts with equipment schools receiving the grants visit pages
purchases used for instructional and educa- 24–34 of this publication.
tional purposes in fabrication laboratories Applicants may only be awarded one grant • DeForest Area School District:
in Wisconsin schools. The open Fab Lab per fiscal year, with a lifetime limit of three $25,000
environment enables students to learn grants (with exemptions to this limit for • Albany School District: $25,000
the skills necessary to thrive in the 21st Milwaukee Public Schools. • School District of Belleville: $14,824
Century global economy. Fab Labs may “WEDC has invested over $5.5 • Nicolet Union High School District:
also serve as a local economic development million over the past ten years to provide $25,000
tool, providing a resource for entrepre- 133 schools across the state with the
neurs, businesses, and inventors through equipment necessary to help students • Joint School District 1/Benton School
community access. learn high-demand skills, including tech- District: $16,936
The Wisconsin Economic Develop- nology, manufacturing, and engineering,” • School District of Arcadia: $25,000
ment Corporation (WEDC) will provide said WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy • Alma Area Schools: $25,000
grants of up to $25,000 to eligible Wiscon- Hughes. “Fab Labs benefit not only the
sin public school districts, or up to $50,000 students themselves with important tech- • CESA 3 (consortium): $49,872
to consortiums of two or more public school nology and career skills, but they also • North Crawford School District:
districts, for the creation and/or expansion benefit Wisconsin employers, who will $24,856
of fabrication laboratories within the school be able to find workers with the right • Weyauwega-Fremont School District:
district(s). The minimum grant amount skills to allow their companies to grow $20,000
available is $10,000. and thrive.” • Luck School District: $25,000
Applicants must supply matching The following school districts were
funds equal to at least 50% of the grant awarded Fab Lab Grants: • Muskego-Norway Schools: $21,688
amount provided by WEDC. Prior pur- • Elkhorn Area School District: • Whitnall School District: $25,000
chases of equipment may not be counted for $25,000 • Tri-County Area School District:
grant reimbursement or the match amount. • School District of Nekoosa: $24,847 $25,000

THANK YOU TO OUR ADVERTISERS FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!

Great Northern Corporation • Green Bay Packaging • Western Technical College • Wolter, Inc
Rice Lake Weighing • OEM Fabricators • JBC Machine • Tool Die Machining Association of Wisconsin

Blackhawk Technical College • Laguna Tools