Page 13 - TransWIFall2025

Fall 2025 Transportation Today Wisconsin™ | 13

DWD Awards Nearly $1 Million in Equipment Grants to 18 School Districts

More than 4,000 students to benefit from training in industries where skilled workers are needed

The Department of Workforce Devel- Pewaukee School District, Waukesha
opment (DWD) has awarded $978,637 in County | $85,922
Wisconsin Fast Forward grants to 18 school This grant will be used to pur-
districts across the state that will serve an chase a Laguna SmartShop
estimated 4,281 students. The Advanced Man- Fiber Laser CBX, Tormach
ufacturing Technical Education Equipment 1100 MX CNC mill, and
grants will help schools prepare students for Laguna SmartShop II Pro
quality careers and address the state's skilled CNC router, which will
labor shortage. increase exposure and industry-relevant skills
Schools will use the funding to upgrade in manufacturing, construction, and robotics
career and technical education training that align with local and regional workforce
equipment and facilities. Projects include needs.
modernizing welding labs, acquiring dental
and biomedical lab equipment, and launching Portage Community School District,
an industrial robotics program. Columbia County | $100,000
This district will use grant
Birchwood School District, Washburn funds to upgrade equipment
County | $99,740 to current industry standards
Funds will be used to in their Technical Education
purchase a FANUC Certi- Department, which will prepare students for
fied Education Training advanced manufacturing and construction
(CERT) Program to Eleva-Strum School District, Trempealeau Ithaca School District, Richland County | careers.
provide students with County | $24,625 $5,154
hands-on training and skill This grant will be used This grant will be used to Prairie du Chien Area School District,
development in programming, autonomous to purchase metal inert purchase a SawStop Cabinet Crawford County | $100,000
systems, and industrial robotics. This will help gas (MIG) and tungsten Table Saw, SawStop Mobile This grant will be used to
prepare students for careers in manufactur- inert gas (TING) welders, Base, Spectrum 625 Plasma purchase B9Creations Educa-
ing, logistics, engineering, and any field that a plasma cutter, and a Cutter, and Millermatic 211 tional Dental Lab equipment,
includes automated systems. welding fabrication table Welder, which will provide which will increase students'
to
exposure
engineering
Burlington Area School District, Burlington which will provide hands-on training with students with hands-on fabrication experience. careers in dental, biomedical, automation, and
County | $18,972 industry-standard equipment, improve safety, Luxemburg-Casco School District, advanced manufacturing.
This grant will be used to and develop students' technical skills. Kewaunee County | $73,331
purchase a Torchmate Com- Ellsworth Community School District, The district will use funds to School District of Monroe, Green County |
puter Numerical Control Pierce County | $100,000 purchase an Epilog Fusion $100,000
(CNC) Plasma Machine These funds will pur- Edge 24 60W Laser Engraver, This district will use funds
and accessories, which chase advanced machine Southbend Metal Lathe, and to purchase equipment
will provide students with tools including Haas Unmanned Arial Vehicle for expanding hands-on
hands-on experience in cutting-edge technolo- HKM-1 Knee Mills, (UAV) Drone Lab, which will training opportunities in
gies for metal fabrication. Haas Minimill CNC expand career pathway experiences in its Fab manufacturing and construction fields.
Cadott Community School District, Chip- Vertical Machining Centers, and a Haas TL-1 Lab, Innovation Lab, and Metals Shop. School District of Oakfield, Fond du Lac
pewa County | $100,000 CNC Tool Room Lathe, which will expand Mosinee School District, Marathon County County | $12,375
The district will use funds to student opportunities across various trade | $54,000 These funds will be used
purchase welding equipment industries and empower students to apply Funds will be used to pur- to purchase a MakerFab
to enhance the technical edu- classroom knowledge to real-world projects. chase a FANUC ARCMate CNC Plasma Table, which
cation infrastructure for their Gillett School District, Oconto County | 50iD/7L Robotic Welder and will upgrade the metal
new facility. $22,205 Arc Max Elite CNC Plasma manufacturing lab and
Funds will be used to purchase System which will expand support Computer Aided Design (CAD) cur-
riculum for middle- and high-school students.
Elcho School District, Langlade County | a brake press, combination their program offerings in industrial robotics,
$18,887 belt and disc grinder, and solid automated welding fabrication, and preci- Sparta Area School District, Monroe
Funds will be used to pur- metal fabrication, welding, and sion metal cutting. These programs will help County | $34,475
chase a welding cart with grinding tables, which will prepare students for careers in welding fabri- This district will use funds
accessories, a belt sander, assist in enhancing its labs to cation and automation technology and offer to purchase an APT Robot
tool chest, and a metal match local manufacturing needs. industry-relevant certifications and dual-credit Weld Cell Certification
lathe. This equipment will Hurley School District, Iron County | opportunities. Cart, which will provide stu-
create new avenues for $11,850 Osseo-Fairchild School District, Trempea- dents confidence to operate
students by giving them exposure to CNC This district will use funds to leau County | $17,101 similar robots and help meet
Milling, opening potential partnerships and purchase a Finishing Solu- This district will use the workforce demands of local employers.
youth apprenticeship opportunities. tions (GFS) Open Faced Spray funds to purchase a
Booth, new exhaust filters, Haas TL1-1 CNC Tool-
and an Ingersol Rand Air Compressor, which room Lathe, which will
will help prepare students for manufacturing increase students’ access to additional train-
careers. ing resources and better prepare them for
post-secondary training.