Technical Education Post

News and Information for Technical Educators

Retool Machine Tool Grant

Northcentral Technical College (NTC) is pleased to be recognized as the recipient of a $340,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant designed to build the machine tool workforce in central Wisconsin over the next three years. The Retool Project focuses on machine tool technician training and careers, diversity and accessibility. The grant was written in collaboration with the Hmong American Center, Central Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (CWIMA) with support from Lange Machine & Tool Company, JARP Industries, and North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board.

Funds from the Retool Machine Tool Grant will support community outreach of machine tool training and careers through NTC’s Advanced Manufacturing Mobile Lab and the Emerging Technologies (STEM) Mobile Lab, which will be showcased during K-12 and community events. NTC’s mobile labs and STEM-centric activities will introduce prospective students to equipment, experiences, and processes to increase awareness and understanding of machine tool technician education and career opportunities.

Additionally, NTC will retool curriculum to develop a new CNC Machining Technician Certificate, and will update and refresh the existing Basic Machining, Machine Tool Operation and Machine Tool Technics technical diplomas.

Collaboration

NTC’s collaboration with the local Hmong American Center and employer partners will give students the opportunity to job shadow professionals in the field and provide internships. Employer partners will also host business tours, serve as panelists and guest speakers in the classroom, identify mentors and identify potential funders for scholarships to support students.

The Retool Machine Tool Grant is made possible through the NSF, Division of Undergraduate Education, Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program which seeks to improve the education of technicians in science and engineering. It is awarded under the federal award identification number 2201611.

https://www.techedmagazine.com/category/news/manufacturing/

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Northcentral Technical College (www.ntc.edu) is north central Wisconsin’s premier two-year college of choice and is a resource for all District residents. It provides individuals, organizations and businesses with quality skills training in a wide range of programs designed to build a competitive, technologically advanced workforce in today’s rapidly changing global environment. NTC has six convenient campus locations in Wausau, Antigo, Medford, Phillips, Spencer, and Wittenberg, as well as a Public Safety Center of Excellence in Merrill, a Wood Technology Center of Excellence in Antigo and an Agriculture Center of Excellence just north of the Wausau Campus in the Village of Maine.  The Wausau Campus also features a Center for Health Sciences, Center for Business & Industry, Information Technology & Entrepreneurial Center (iTEC), STEM Center, Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center of Excellence, SPOONS restaurant, Studio Max Salon + Spa and a Center for Geriatric Education.

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