The state's job creation agency is helping more high schools and tech colleges create new "fabrication labs" that train students to obtain valuable job skills.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation says it will allocate another 500-thousand dollars in the current fiscal year for the "Fab Labs" program. The labs are high tech workshops with manufacturing components like laser engravers and Three "D" printers.
Three Lakes was the first K-12 school district in Wisconsin.
Northwoods Broadband Coalition founder Don Sidlowski of Three Lakes has been involved with the development of the Lab there and other Northwoods schools and was in attendance at the announcement. He says an additional 25 schools will be funded with applications beginning October 10.
He outlines which Northwoods schools are involved...
"....Three Lakes, they're in the third year of operation. Florence county is in its second year of operation. Successful grant applicants from the first round were Northland Pines in Eagle River and the School District of Rhinelander. That makes Oneida county the first county in Wisconsin to have two K-12 schools with Fab Labs..."
Three Lakes is in the third year of operation, other schools in the area include Rhinelander, Northland Pines and Florence. Oneida county is the first county in the state with two Fab Labs.
Fab Labs are for students who seek careers in the "STEM" fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. The state budget included 500-thousand dollars last year, and the W-E-D-C allocated another 100-thousand in May to meet an excess demand.
