MADISON — The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. is accepting applications for its Fabrication Laboratories, Fab Labs, Grant Program, which provides funding to help public schools build or expand fab labs.
The grant program supports hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education by assisting public school districts with equipment purchases for instructional and educational purposes in fab labs. Fab labs are high-tech workshops with the latest equipment, including computer-controlled manufacturing components, such as 3D printers, laser engravers and computer numerical control routers.
WEDC will provide grants of up to $25,000 to public school districts, or up to $50,000 to consortiums of two or more districts, for the creation and/or expansion of fabrication laboratories, according to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. The money can be used to buy equipment used for instructional and educational purposes by elementary, middle, junior high or high school students. Applicants must match the amount of funding provided by WEDC.
Since the program’s inception, WEDC has awarded nearly $1.6 million in grants to 43 districts. In April, grants totaling more than $500,000 were awarded to 22 districts. WEDC is allocating another $500,000 in this fiscal year and anticipates awarding 20 grants this time around. Recipients will be announced in the spring.
Fab Labs Grants will be awarded through a competitive process, with applications evaluated based on the applicant’s readiness and long-range planning, curriculum, business and community partnerships, financial need and previous awards. This year’s round of Fab Labs Grants includes a moratorium on applicants who have already received three grants, excluding Milwaukee Public Schools.
More information on the program, including applications details, can be found at wedc.org/fablabs. The deadline is Dec. 13.
