Northwest Wisconsin Schools Receive Technical Education Grants

(CIVIC MEDIA) – Four northwest Wisconsin schools received a portion of $1 million dollars in grant funding through the Department of Workforce Development.

A total of 19 school districts across the state received a portion of the funding through the Wisconsin Fast Forward grant program. According to a press release, the funding is meant to help students address the state’s skilled workforce shortage by supporting technical education programs. Department of Workforce Development officials also say the grant funding will benefit over 4,200 students across the state.

The Durand-Arkansaw School District in Pepin County and Elk Mound Area School District in Dunn County each received $100,000 in grant funding through the program. The Durand-Arkansaw School District will use the funding to purchase a modular robotic welding system. The Elk Mound Area School District will use their grant funding to purchase learning systems and equipment for the fields of automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing.

The Augusta School District in Eau Claire County also received $6,000 in grant funding, which it will use to purchase a robotic Neuromaker Hand 2.0 and BioSensor Pack. District officials are hoping the equipment will encourage more students to explore biotechnology and engineering.

The Superior School District in Douglas County also received $48,000 in grant funding. They will use the funding to purchase advanced manufacturing equipment like 3D Printers and a Powder Coating System.

The Department of Workforce Development also recently awarded Wisconsin Fast Forward grant funding to three Northwest Wisconsin businesses. That funding aims to reimburse the businesses for the cost of occupational training for their workforce in fields like healthcare and manufacturing.