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Wisconsin Public School Districts Encouraged to Apply for

Fab Labs Grants

printers, laser engravers and computer numeri- long-range planning, curriculum, business and
cal control routers. community partnerships, financial need, and
WEDC’s investment in the program puts previous awards.
fab labs within reach for schools that might More information on the program, includ-
otherwise not have the financial means to ing application details, can be found at wedc.
install such facilities. org/fablabs. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15.
WEDC will provide grants of up to
$25,000 to public school districts, or up to
$50,000 to consortiums of two or more dis-
tricts, for the creation and/or expansion of fab
labs. The minimum grant amount is $10,000.
For this year’s funding cycle, applicants
are being asked to match 50% of the amount
of grant funds requested. For example, if
a district is requesting a grant of $25,000,
the district must provide a match of at least
$12,500. The funds may be used to purchase
equipment used for instructional and educa-
tional purposes by elementary, middle, junior
high, or high school students.
WEDC is allocating $250,000 this fiscal
The Wisconsin Economic Develop- science, technology, engineering, arts and year and anticipates awarding 10 grants.
ment Corporation (WEDC) is now accepting math (STEAM) education by assisting public Recipients will be announced in the spring of
applications for its Fabrication Laboratories school districts with equipment purchases for 2026.
(Fab Labs) Grant Program, which provides instructional and educational purposes in fab Fab Labs Grants will be awarded on
funding to help public schools build or labs. Fab labs are high-tech workshops with a non-competitive first-come, first-served
expand fab labs. the latest equipment, including computer-con- basis, with applicants evaluated on applica-
The grant program supports hands-on trolled manufacturing components such as 3D tion completeness, evidence of readiness and

20 Wisconsin School Districts Awarded Fab Lab Grants in Celebration of

“Fab Lab Day”

• Nicolet Union High School District,
$25,000
• Joint School District 1/Benton School
District, $16,936
• School District of Arcadia, $25,000
• Alma Area Schools, $25,000
• CESA 3 (consortium), $49,872
• North Crawford School District, $24,856
• Weyauwega-Fremont School District,
$20,000
• Luck School District, $25,000
• Muskego-Norway Schools, $21,688 • Westosha Central High School District,
• Whitnall School District, $25,000 $25,000
• Tri-County Area School District, • Pewaukee School District, $24,176
$25,000
For more information on the state’s Fab
• School District of Monroe, $25,000 Labs, including resources for teachers, visit
• Ellsworth Community School District, wedc.org/fablabs
Late, last spring, the state and the Wis- from WEDC was distributed to 20 public
consin Economic Development Corporation school districts across the state. $25,000
(WEDC), announced nearly $500,000 in The following school districts were
grants to 20 Wisconsin school districts to train awarded Fab Lab Grants:
students in science, technology, engineering, • Elkhorn Area School District, $25,000 Don’t forget to check out the latest issue of Teaching Today WI™ where
arts, and mathematics (STEAM) skills and we will be sharing the stories behind some of these Fab labs and more
prepare them for careers using advanced tech- • School District of Nekoosa, $24,847 in our special STEM section! Print and digital copies will be sent to your
nologies through establishing or expanding • DeForest Area School District, $25,000 school district and are available upon request.
local fabrication laboratory (fab lab) facilities. • Albany School District, $25,000
A total of $497,199 in Fab Lab Grants • School District of Belleville, $14,824 https://www.teachingtodaywi.com