NIMS, Gene Haas Foundation, Edge Factor Launch Grant Program
The Inspire Grant Program will provide as many as 500 schools with full access to Edge Factor’s EduFactor educational resources.
The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), the Gene Haas Foundation and Edge Factor are partnering to launch a new Inspire Grant Program to provide schools and training centers with educational materials related to advanced manufacturing careers. Through the grant program, schools will receive funding towards EduFactor memberships, providing access to a library of cinematic films and TV series; CTE (career technical education), STEM and event resources; hands-on CNC and 3D printing projects; and other interactive activities.
Through funding from the Gene Haas Foundation, as many as 500 schools will receive full access to EduFactor resources.
Marlo Loria, CTE director at Mesa Public Schools (Mesa, Arizona) comments on the impact of such a grant program: “Without the grant, it would not be possible to provide EduFactor memberships to schools across my district.” She adds, “So many people talk about filling the skills gap, but Edge Factor is doing something about it.”
“With 3.5 million manufacturing jobs needing to be filled over the next decade, our economic competitiveness depends on preparing today’s students for current and future jobs,” says Kathy Looman of the Gene Haas Foundation. “EduFactor is a critical resource to help educators and students understand and embrace the skills they need to be successful in advanced manufacturing jobs.”
According to NIMS, a recent survey found that only 30 percent of Americans believe that schools encourage students to pursue manufacturing careers and that only a third of parents encourage their children to consider a career in manufacturing. The resources produced by Edge Factor are intended to directly address this perception by helping educators make manufacturing careers and technology relevant and exciting to students and their parents.
“We are proud to stand beside exceptional, forward-thinking leaders in manufacturing education like the Gene Haas Foundation and NIMS to impact communities and help make these resources available to more schools,” says Jeremy Bout, producer and host of Edge Factor.
Edge Factor, visit edgefactor.com.
