Students at 17 school districts across the state will benefit from new advanced manufacturing training for high-demand jobs

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), today announced that 4,637 students in 17 school districts will benefit from advanced manufacturing training in preparation for high-demand job opportunities thanks to grants from the Wisconsin Fast Forward Program.

“Advanced manufacturing is an important part of our economy in Wisconsin, and ensuring our kids have access to high-demand, high-skill job training opportunities is critical if we want to prepare our future workforce for the 21st Century,” said Gov. Evers. “By investing in technical education in school districts across the state, we are connecting the dots and expanding career opportunities for thousands of students while positioning our manufacturers for success.”

The current round of Wisconsin Fast Forward grants from DWD totals $408,123 for school districts across the state to train students for career paths involving robotics, welding, plasma cutting, 3D printing, drones, and more. These grants reimburse school districts for the costs of purchasing and installing technical education equipment used for vocational training and technical education in advanced manufacturing fields. This includes the purchase of new equipment such as computer numerical control machines, robotic welders, fiber laser cutting machines, 3D printers, and more.

“Fast Forward grants connect school districts across Wisconsin with some of the great advanced manufacturing companies we have in our state, such as Baileigh Industrial and Snap-On, to prepare our future workforce for careers in high-demand, high-skill industries,” said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. “The state-of-the-art equipment, including robotic welders, laser cutters, 3D printers, and other high-tech tools, will enable schools to provide coursework that aligns with industry standards and requirements.”

High school students will train in advanced manufacturing fields to prepare for stable careers while they obtain dual enrollment credits, industry-endorsed certificates, and technical endorsements on high school diplomas. Advanced manufacturing refers to a family of manufacturing activities that depend on the use and coordination of information, automation, computation, software, sensing, and networking, and/or use of cutting-edge materials and emerging production capabilities enabled by the physical and biological sciences, including nanotechnology, chemistry, and biology. This involves both new ways of manufacturing existing products and manufacturing new products emerging from advanced technologies.

The awards announced today include:

Wilmot Union High School District, Kenosha County | $12,212
The school district will use grant funds to purchase a Snap-On Precision Measuring Certification Kit to provide students with an industry-recognized certification for precision measuring tools in manufacturing.

Two Rivers Public School District, Manitowoc County | $12,630
The school district will use grant funds for a Snap-On Precision Measurement Training Tool Kit, which will help students understand the fundamentals of working with precision measurement instruments.

Port Washington-Saukville School District, Ozaukee County | $29,348
The school district will use grant funds for a Baileigh CNC Press Brake, Piranha P-65 Ironworker, and Miller Multimatic 220 AC/DC Welders. The equipment will enhance welding and fabrication offerings by adding supplemental American Welding Society: Schools Excelling through National Skills Education (AWS SENSE) certifications in shielded metal arc welding and gas tungsten arc welding and increasing the percentage of students earning the AWS SENSE level one certification in gas metal arc welding.

Hurley School District, Iron County | $20,258
The school district will use grant funds for two manual milling machines and three manual lathe machines to prepare students for successful careers in the manufacturing industry.

Muskego-Norway School District, Waukesha County | $50,000
The school district will use grant funds for Electrical Fabrication and Wiring Learning Systems. This equipment will give students practical, hands-on experience in electrical wiring and thermal processing, diagnostics, troubleshooting, and management processes, equipping students with the skills needed for careers in these critical fields.

Peshtigo School District, Marinette County | $5,000
The school district will use grant funds for Oculus Meta Quest headsets, iPads, and a hydroponic system to give students experience with skills needed for local, in-demand careers.

School District of Nekoosa, Wood County | $9,538
The school district will use grant funds for six Bambu Lab X1-Carbon Combo 3D printers and two DJI Mini 4 Pro drones to expand manufacturing course offerings, including dual-credit credit courses with Mid-State Technical College.

School District of Holmen, La Crosse County | $10,869
The school district will use grant funds for a Universal Laser System, a VLS Cylindrical material indexer, and an AD Oracle iQ with a compressor to expose students to new careers in manufacturing.

Augusta Area School District, Eau Claire County | $35,798
The school district will use grant funds for a CRX collaborative robot integration package and a FANUC CNC Simulator. The equipment will provide students with industry-recognized certifications from FANUC-NOCTI and NIMS, ensuring they graduate with practical skills in high-demand manufacturing sectors.

School District of Jefferson, Jefferson County | $38,176
The school district will use grant funds for mechatronics equipment, a Haas CNC Mini Mill machining center, a Universal Laser System, and a WAZER CNC water jet, providing students hands-on learning experience with mechanical systems that use electrical and digital components.

Madison Metropolitan School District, Dane County | $49,208
The school district will use grant funds for CNC routers, VEX Robotic kits, and laser cutters, which will help foster student interest in robotics, engineering design, and smart manufacturing techniques.

Stockbridge School District, Calumet County | $5,000
The school district will use grant funds for an Eastwood Elite 4x4 CNC plasma table with a plasma cutter, which will give students the exposure, knowledge, and skill set needed for manufacturing careers.

School District of Superior, Douglas County | $25,243
The school district will use grant funds for Multimatic 255 Multiprocess Welders, Dynasty 210 TIG welders, and accessories to create eight welding booths for students to gain exposure to welding and fabrication processes.

School District of Spencer, Marathon County | $7,844
The school district will use grant funds for an Epilog Fusion Maker 24 40W laser engraver, which will expand students’ exploration of digital manufacturing, addressing critical equipment needs and preparing them for future careers in manufacturing.

School District of Rhinelander, Oneida County | $46,050
The school district will use grant funds for a Fusion Pro 36 CO2 laser engraver 80W. This equipment will expand rapid prototyping and students’ exploration of digital manufacturing, addressing critical equipment needs and preparing students for future careers in manufacturing.

Elkhorn Area School District, Walworth County | $33,556
The school district will use grant funds for a Haas Mini Mill CNC vertical machining center with 4th-axis drive, a servo rotary table, and a classroom simulator. The equipment will be used for advanced manufacturing industry training and certifications and will meet the skills demand of the local manufacturing workforce.

School District of La Crosse, La Crosse County | $17,393
The school district will use grant funds for a 4x4 Foundational Robotics UGV Lab, CNC simulator, and TecQuipment Engineering Science kits. The equipment will enhance course offerings in engineering and manufacturing and provide more opportunities for high school students to earn college credit.

Additional information on the Wisconsin Fast Forward Program is available here.

An online version of this release is available here.