MUSKEGO — The Muskego-Norway School District and 17 other school districts will receive more than $493,000 in "fab lab" grants to train students in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) skills and prepare them for careers using advanced technologies. Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes made the announcement on Tuesday.
A fab lab is a workshop equipped with computer-controlled manufacturing components such as 3D printers, laser engravers, computer numerical control (CNC) routers, and plasma cutters. The grant program helps support the purchase of fab lab equipment for educational purposes.
The Muskego-Norway School District is among the first-time recipients this year. With a $24,700 grant, the district will be able to have a new lab at Muskego High School, which is now under construction. The STEAM and Health Science addition, to be completed before school begins in the fall, is part of a $44.6 million referendum voters approved two years ago.
To receive a grant, districts must provide matching funds equal to half of the award. As a result, the schools and the state this year will invest at least $750,000 in STEAM education in K-12 schools throughout Wisconsin.
In addition to the grants, WEDC has developed a fab lab resource page for its website that provides districts with information on how to set up and equip a fab lab, how to implement best practices to ensure a successful fab lab, and more. Content for the page was provided by the University of Wisconsin-Stout and Fox Valley Technical College. To read more about announcement click on https://bit.ly/4blN67H for more information.
