Equipping students to thrive in a global market
The Fabrication Laboratories (Fab Labs) Grant Program is designed to support hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) education by assisting Wisconsin public school districts with purchases of equipment used for instructional and educational purposes in fab labs. This learning environment enables students to learn the skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century global economy.
By helping to fund labs that school districts might not otherwise be able to afford, this program allows more K-12 students to receive direct experience with STEAM skills—and ultimately leads to more graduates entering the workforce equipped with these skills. This program demonstrates that Wisconsin understands how important STEAM skills are to the business community as well as new companies seeking to locate here. Fab labs also serve a broader economic development purpose by acting as a resource for entrepreneurs, inventors, and businesses from their local areas—thus sparking innovation in their surrounding communities.
How it works
WEDC will provide grants of up to $25,000 to eligible Wisconsin public school districts, or up to $50,000 to consortiums of two or more public school districts, for the creation and/or expansion of fabrication laboratories within the school district(s). The minimum grant amount available is $10,000. The funds may be used to purchase equipment used for instructional and educational purposes by elementary, middle, junior high, or high school students.
Applicants must supply matching funds equal to at least 50% of the grant amount provided by WEDC. Prior purchases of equipment may not be counted for grant reimbursement or the match amount. Applicants may only be awarded one grant per fiscal year, with a lifetime limit of three grants (with exemptions to this limit for Milwaukee Public Schools, for the expansion of a fab lab to allow use by K-8 students, and for the expansion or addition of a fab lab to include artificial intelligence or related skills training).
Eligibility Requirements
Program Resources
Educator Resources
WiFAB, created in partnership with UW-Stout, is a new online resource to help PK-12 school districts collaborate and share information by providing a space to disseminate relevant curricula, champion best practices, address common challenges and facilitate inter-lab communications. Wisconsin Public PK-12 districts are now able to request technical assistance through the web portal to build and grow their Fabrication Laboratories. You will find a link to request assistance on this page.
WiFAB Cooperative Training For Teachers
2024 Summer Training for FabLab Teachers
- 101: INTRO TO FABLAB EQUIPMENT
- 102: TEACHING IN A FABLAB
- 103: DEVELOP CURRICULUM (New)
Topics covered will include:
- Develop a fab labs curriculum.
- Understand how a fab lab is used to foster multi-disciplinary learning.
- Use simple problems to teach age-appropriate STEAM concepts.
- Consider your fab labs setup, training, and operation.
- Challenge students to identify the problem, imagine solutions, weigh ideas, prototype, and test.
- Hear how your fab labs can engage with industry and community members.
- Pre-workshop consult to understand your needs and post-workshop support.
Resources and Inspiration for K-8 Fab Labs
Can Kids As young As Three Learn to Design and Create In Fab Labs?
This page will be updated as new offerings become available.
