Robert Duby, 81, watches as a plasma cutter burns through steel at an open-community event in a Fab Lab at Florence High School. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin State Journal.

Twenty one school districts around the state of Wisconsin have been awarded grants to establish or expand upon fabrication facilities. Governor Scott Walker and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation announced last week the awarding of nearly $500,000 in grants for the 'Fab Labs,' high-technology workshops equipped with computer controlled manufacturing components including 3D printers, laser engravers, and plasma cutters.

The Fab Labs are meant to encourage students' creativity while also exposing them to hands-on experience and the emerging technologies and skills of the manufacturing and engineering industries. But the valuable experience made available by the Fab Labs is not reserved for just students. This year's grant program requires all of the successful applicants to open up their Fab Labs for use by the general public.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation received applications for the grants from 69 school districts. In total, they awarded $494,809 to 21 districts based on readiness, long-range planning, curriculum, community partnerships, financial need, and previous awards.  Successful applicants are required to match their awarded grants dollar-for-dollar.

Read more here.