ELLSWORTH – Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced Friday that Ellsworth Community School District 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 global economy. Ellsworth Community School District was awarded $25,000 to expand a fab lab.

“Fab labs provide students throughout Wisconsin with access to high-tech equipment for hands-on experience and training necessary to prepare them for the jobs of the future,” Gov. Tony Evers said. “We are pleased to award more than $496,000 to 20 school districts today so they can establish or expand their fab lab programs. These great spaces for learning are of enormous benefit to students directly, of course, but also their communities by fostering collaboration, bolstering access to technology, encouraging innovation, and inspiring the next generation of leaders.”

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.

“WEDC has invested over $5.5 million over the past 10 years to 133 school districts across the state, funding for 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 the students themselves with important technology and career skills, as well as Wisconsin employers, who will be able to find workers with the right skills to allow their companies to grow and thrive.”

Including Ellsworth Community School District, 20 school districts throughout the state are being awarded over $496,000 in Fab Lab grants this year to establish or expand their fab labs. 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.

Submitted by Ellsworth Community School District