Fab Lab Grants Awarded
This week the Wisconsin Economic
Development Corporation (WEDC) announced
the first recipients of the Fabrication
Laboratories (Fab Labs) Grant Program.
The program was created in the 2015-17
biennial budget at the urging of Rep.
Mary Czaja (R-Irma) and made $500,000
available to school districts across the
state.
Fab Labs are classroom facilities
located on a school campus where
students and members of the community
can learn hands-on skills related to
jobs in STEM fields (science,
technology, engineering, and math).
Tools in the Fab Lab can include items
such as a 3D printer, a mini-mill,
router, plasma cutter, or a
laser-engraver. The idea and curriculum
began in 2001 at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) and has
since grown to more than 500 locations
around the world. As part of the
process, students also receive training
in project management, cost accounting,
and other managerial skills to prepare
them for the future workforce.
To qualify for consideration in the
Wisconsin Fab Labs Grant Program, a
school district was required to provide
matching funds and have the Fab Lab
initiative approved by the school board.
All Fab Labs are also required to be
available at certain times to members of
the community and general public to
allow interested persons to pursue STEM
skills.
Initial funding provided for the Fab Lab
grants was set at $500,000 with the
expectation that several dozen school
districts would apply. However, leaders
were pleasantly surprised to learn that
over 90 school districts applied and an
additional $101,000 of flexible funding
was added to the initiative. This amount
allowed for awards of up to $25,000 for
25 school districts. All applications
were competitively evaluated on the
basis of long range planning,
partnerships with private industry in
the community, and overall financial
need.
“A key benefit of Fab Labs is the
ability to connect students to ideas and
research from around the world,” said
Rep. Czaja. “In Wisconsin 44% of our
students attend school in a rural
classroom and increasing their exposure
to technology and solid skills is a
sound investment in the future workforce
of our state. I will be working next
session to build on the success of these
initial 25 grants and further expand the
Fab Labs Program.”
Superintendent Ben Niehaus from the
School District of Florence made the
following comment, “Through our regional
schools providing educational
opportunities with the STEM and Fab Lab
movement, we know that businesses and
industry will greatly value knowing
there are students being prepared in our
local region with the technical,
analytical and problem-solving skills
desired and needed in so many fields
today.”
Wisconsin’s first K-12 Fab Lab was
opened by the Three Lakes School
District in September 2014. The School
District of Florence Fab Lab opened in
September 2015 and was followed by an
additional six districts. The new grants
will bring Wisconsin’s number of Fab
Labs to 33, the highest in the nation.
Congratulations Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce
Congratulations to the Tomahawk
Regional Chamber of Commerce for receiving a Joint Effort
Marketing (JEM) grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism
for their Destination Marketing Development and Branding
Project, which takes place August 1 through December 31, 2016.
The projected economic impact of this project when it is
complete is approximately $4,190,000.
JEM grant funds are available to non-profit organizations for
the promotion of Wisconsin tourism events and destinations. The
state can fund a portion of a project's advertising and
marketing costs for up to three years until the project becomes
self-sustaining.
Inland Game Fish Season Opening: DNR Report
Wisconsin's 2016 inland game fish season opens this Saturday with unseasonably warm weather in the forecast. While conditions may be great for open water fishing, state forestry officials are cautioning that there are very high fire danger conditions in northwestern Wisconsin and high fire danger conditions across about half the state. Much of the southern half of the state, where vegetation is nearing full green-up, has decreased to moderate fire danger.
In the north, walleye
have completed their spawning activity on all but
the largest of the lakes. With a continued warming
trend, look for an excellent opening weekend walleye
bite with both live and artificial baits likely to
produce good action. With water temperatures nearing
the mid-50s, both smallmouth and largemouth bass
have started to show up in shallow water.
For panfish, perch have their completed spawning,
crappie are about a week or two away from starting
spawning, while bluegill and pumpkinseed are about
three to four weeks away. Some nice crappie and
bluegill have been showing up in the shallow, warmer
bays.
New in 2016 are simplified trout regulations
designed to create more uniformity for anglers.
Search the DNR website for "trout fishing" to find
regulations and new color-coded maps.
On Green Bay, boaters reported good numbers of
walleye, pike and a few brown trout being caught
from Oconto to the Pensaukee River. High winds from
the northeast last week limited fishing pressure
along the east shore of the bay. Anglers who braved
the waves managed to get a few walleyes. A few
steelhead were still being found upstream in the
West Twin and Branch rivers but the fish remaining
have been tough to catch. On Lake Michigan, the
strong winds and high waves also kept fishing effort
relatively low. Most boats have been trolling inside
harbors due to the winds and large waves. Some brown
trout were landed near the mouth of the Milwaukee
River. When the winds are favorable, boats have been
out targeting coho and brown trout out of Racine and
Kenosha
Services Around the District
Bridge Community Health Clinic
Bridge Clinic opened its doors in 1995 to provide comprehensive medical care to the underserved, underinsured, self-pay, and insured population of Marathon County. The Dental Department opened a year later in 1996 to provide dental care in Marathon County. In 2008, the dental services expanded to include offices in Merrill and Antigo, Wisconsin which serves Lincoln, Langlade, Forest and Oneida Counties. In 2009, Bridge Clinic expanded its Wausau building to accommodate the increasing need in the community. This new area created more room for a counseling department, patient education (prenatal and diabetes), legal guidance through the Medical Legal Partnership formed in collaboration with Judicare, and a confidential area for patients to talk with a Patient Financial Advocate. Bridge Clinic provides a sliding fee scale for patients without insurance. They participate in local insurance plans and welcome patients covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or other government programs. If you would like more information click here.
Services:
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Primary Health and Dental Care
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Counseling Services
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Child Health Care
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Pregnancy Care
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Labs
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Prescription Drug Assistance
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Transportation Services
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Translation Services (Hmong, Spanish, Laotian)
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Care Management
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Physicians on call after hours and weekends
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Diabetes and prenatal case management
Locations:
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Antigo Dental Clinic: 1111 Langlade Road, Antigo (715)627-4383
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Merrill Dental Clinic: 503 S. Center Ave. Suite #6, Merrill (715)539-8181
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Wausau Medical, Counseling, and Dental Clinic: 1810 N. 2nd St., Wausau (715)848-4884
Upcoming Events in Northern Wisconsin
May 6-7
Tomahawk
May 7
Inland Game Fishing Opening
Across State
