WEDC invests in Elk Mound Area School District for fab lab equipment
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ELK MOUND – The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced Wednesday, May 5th that the Elk Mound Area 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’s global economy. Elk Mound Area School District was awarded $25,000 to create a 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 Elk Mound Area School District, 28 school districts throughout the state are being awarded a total of $635,089 in Fab Lab 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.
“Last spring, our community passed a referendum to renovate the current space to allow for the creation of a Fab Lab. The grant funds will allow us to purchase additional equipment and help prepare our students for the future,” said Eric Wright, Elk Mound Superintendent.
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 the WEDC’s fab lab resource page or follow #WIFabLab on Twitter.
About Elk Mound Area School District
The Elk Mound Area School District is located in northwestern Wisconsin, 10 miles west of Eau Claire. The district has an approximate enrollment of 1200 students distributed between three schools. The elementary school houses preschool through 4th grade. The middle school houses 5th through 8th grades. The high school houses 9th-12th grades. The mission of the district is to help our youth to become responsible citizens who seek to contribute to our society in positive ways.
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.
