An official says the recent development of Fab Labs in northern Wisconsin shows progress made under the state's Fast Forward program.
Department of Workforce Development Assistant Deputy Secretary David Anderson was in Rhinelander last week and heard a presentation by students and administrators from the Three Lakes schools Fab Lab. The lab is a technology-based manufacturing process. Three Lakes was the first K-12 school in the state to have a Fab Lab, but others are coming on line.
Anderson says FAST FORWARD has become a prime effort to train new employees, but also there's a high school program, which helped develop the Fab Lab program...
"....that provides Fast Forward training dollars to schools so they can enhance training opportunities for young people..."
Anderson says a Fast Forward grant helped move the Three Lakes program forward, and is helping other schools in the state...
"......this high school program has really spawned a lot of innovative approaches to get young people thinking about their futures, acquiring the necessary skills to prepare them for their further education and as they make a decision as to what their direction is going to go...."
Originally from Hazelhurst , Anderson started his professional career as a high school German teacher at Lakeland Unionb High School in Minocqua. While teaching, he was elected to the Oneida County Board of Supervisors and was a supervisor, and later Chairman, for the Town of Hazelhurst.
