Muskego-Norway among18 Wisconsin school districts to receive state fabrication lab grants

Thanks to a nearly $25,000 state grant, the Muskego-Norway School District will be able to furnish its new science, technology, engineering, art and math addition at Muskego High School.

In a joint news release April 30, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and school district announced that Muskego-Norway is among 18 Wisconsin school districts that are being awarded over $493,000 in Fab Lab grants this year.

For Muskego-Norway, the STEAM addition was one of several projects included in a $44.6 million referendum voters approved in 2022.

The WEDC's Fab Labs Grant Program website said students need hands-on experience and training to practice what they have learned in science, technology, engineering, art and math courses to be prepared for 21st-century jobs. To provide that hands-on learning, equipment is needed, such as 3D printers, laser engravers, computer numerical control (CNC) routers and plasma cutters. The Fab Labs Grant Program helps districts purchase such equipment.

"Fab Labs may also serve as a local economic development tool, providing a resource for entrepreneurs, businesses and inventors through community access," said the program's guidelines.

Gov. Tony Evers and WEDC secretary and CEO Missy Hughes were among the dignitaries at Muskego High School on April 30 to announce the grants, which included $24,700 for the Muskego-Norway School District.

Here's what to know about the grants.

What is a Fab Lab?

A Fab Lab is a high-technology workshop that has computer-controlled manufacturing components such as 3D printers, laser engravers, CNC routers and/or plasma cutters, according to the grant program's guidelines.

"A fully functioning Fab Lab has active engagement with the business community, is accessible to multiple departments within a school or schools, provides community access, and is integrated with the network of Wisconsin-based Fab Labs," the guidelines said.

How does the WEDC Fab Lab grant program work?

The WEDC will provide up to $25,000 to eligible Wisconsin public school districts or up to $50,000 to consortiums of two or more public school districts to create or expand fabrication labs within a school district or multiple districts. A minimum of $10,000 is available for grants. Funds can be used to buy equipment for "instructional and educational purposes" by elementary, middle, junior high or high school students.

The school district must match at least 50% of the grant amount, under the guidelines.

What does the WEDC consider when reviewing applications?

The WEDC reviews these factors when considering grant applications:

• Readiness and long-range planning

• Curriculum

• Business and community partnerships

• Financial need and previous awards

What other Wisconsin school districts received WEDC Fab Lab grants this year?

Muskego-Norway was one of several districts that were new grant recipients this year. The district joins the Butternut, Deerfield Community, DeForest Area, Mosinee, Racine Unified and Plainfield Wisconsin's Tri County school districts.

The Deerfield Community, DeForest Area, Mosinee, Racine Unified and Plainfield Wisconsin's Tri County school districts received $25,000 each. The Butternut School District received $22,000.

Other districts that received grants this year have also received grants in past years. Those include the Whitehall School District consortium, which received $50,000 and the CESA 3 Consortium with Fennimore, which received $47,396.

The Fall River, Hayward Community, Nekoosa, New Lisbon, Croix Central, Washington Island, Waunakee Community and the Weyauwega-Fremont school districts all received $25,000 grants. The Random Lake School District will receive $24,300.

Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at@AlecJohnson12.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Muskego-Norway to receive state grant for fabrication lab equipment