Grants give Northeast Wisconsin schools fab lab upgrades

SEYMOUR (WLUK) -- Five schools across Northeast Wisconsin will see an upgrade in equipment and technology.

Gresham, Omro, Mishicot, Seymour and Weyauwega-Fremont are among 25 school districts in the state to receive a piece of more than $560,000 in fab lab grants to train students in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) skills and prepare them for careers using advanced technologies.

Fab lab, which is short for fabrication laboratory, is a high-technology workshop equipped with computer-controlled manufacturing components such as 3D printers, laser engravers, computer numerical control (CNC) routers and plasma cutters.

• Click here to see a full list of grant recipients

On Wednesday, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Deputy Secretary Sam Rikkers stopped by Seymour High School to celebrate its $25,000 fab lab grant to expand and upgrade their existing fab lab space.

WEDC has invested more than $4.5 million over the past eight years to provide 118 schools across Wisconsin with the equipment necessary to help students learn high-demand skills, including technology, manufacturing, and engineering.