Beaver Dam Schools Awarded Wisconsin Fast Forward Grant

(Beaver Dam) The Beaver Dam Unified School District has been awarded a Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Equipment Grant in the amount of $50,000 from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD).

The grant allows the district to update and purchase equipment for the High School Fabrication Lab. This will provide an opportunity for students to acquire the skills and industry recognized certifications for technical careers in manufacturing.

Department of Workforce Development Secretary Ray Allen says “This grant enables school districts to update existing educational offerings, add new classes and increase capacity of career and technical education courses.  By supporting students learning high-demand technical skills while still in high school, Wisconsin is supporting an accelerated future workforce.”

The Wisconsin Fast Forward program encourages increased collaboration between Wisconsin’s workforce, employers, local or regional economic development organizations, workforce development boards, post secondary institutions and private training providers to develop and execute business-led training programs.

Beaver Dam Unified School District Superintendent, Mark DiStefano says This is another wonderful example of how important and valued technical education is within the state and the district. DiStefano says the staff will put this investment to great use and expressed gratitude for the grant and the support the district receives from local manufacturing and business partners.

Including Beaver Dam, 35 school districts within the state of Wisconsin have been awarded a total of $1 million in support of advanced manufacturing initiatives.