L-C School District Tech Ed program receives DWD Fast Forward Grant

Area businesses step up to support district students with matching grants for additional equipment

LUXEMBURG, Wis. – The Luxemburg-Casco School District has received a Fast Forward Technical Education Equipment Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) in support of an enhancement of its Fab and Innovation Labs. The new equipment will provide more opportunity for students to explore career pathways in manufacturing and related industries through hands-on work, as well as provide for elevation of the district’s engineering curriculum.

The approved DWD Fast Forward award is for up to $73,331. Major equipment to be acquired with it includes two MINDS-I Drones Labs and three 16-speed, 3-phase lathes.

All of the equipment will be purchased in the coming weeks and installed over the summer break. Teachers will be trained on the equipment over the summer months, and it will be fully utilized in student classes starting in August with the 2025-26 academic year.

The vision of the Fab Lab, Innovation Lab (drafting and design space) and Metals program is to provide L-C students with a sampling of real-world manufacturing processes, according to Mike Snowberry, the district’s director of learning services. This exposure to new technologies can lead to a connection between student curriculum and career pathways in manufacturing and engineering.

“We can’t thank the Department of Workforce Development enough for the impact this new equipment will have on Luxemburg-Casco students,” says Snowberry. “It allows us to keep pace with rapidly evolving industries like manufacturing, automation and engineering, which rely on cutting-edge technology and skilled labor. There is a growing demand for workers to be technically proficient, making it incumbent for the district to provide our students with industry-relevant skills.

“Area businesses were critical to L-C receiving this grant. They step up to support us through monetary and in-kind equipment donations when we have a specific need, and their counsel on the latest industry trends assists in delivering the appropriate technical education to our students. At the end of the day, it helps everyone when we are able to retain our talent locally.”

Matching grants are required to be eligible for the DWD Fast Forward grant. Area businesses who supported the newest technical equipment acquisition include D&S Machine Service, DeKeyser Construction, Green Bay Packaging George Kress Foundation, Olson Fabrication Inc., Kono Kogs Inc., LaserForm, Tweet Garot, Lemens WaterCare, Cabinet Creations & Design, Distinctive Cabinets and Dorsch Ford.

The matching grants from these 11 organizations totaled $73,535. Those funds will be utilized to purchase two Epilog Fusion Edge 24 60W Laser Engravers, along with an additional 16-speed, 3-phase lathe, and related equipment. The engraver is a desktop laser cutter with a 24” x 24” work area, and provides the fastest engraving speed in a compact format, plus dual-overhead cameras for a real-time picture of the working area to ensure accurate artwork placement and engraving.

The MINDS-I Drones Lab is intended to prepare students for emerging, highly technical jobs through enhanced STEM learning. The related curriculum provides the opportunity to design, build and program drones for aerial search and rescues, GPS-guided crop dusting, autonomous deliveries to remote locations and other industry-related challenges. The related curriculum delves into programming, physics, mechanical systems, and electrical and electronic systems.

The 14” x 40” 16-Speed 220V 3-Phase Lathes with Fagor DRO, manufactured by South Bend Lathe Co., will provide students with different capacities for their production needs. They are designed for adaptability and durability, and ensure metalworking accuracy.

“In the Fab Lab, the two Epilog laser engravers will revolutionize our technology education program by providing students with hands-on experience in digital design and fabrication,” says L-C Technology Education Teacher Norm Hippert. “Creativity and problem-solving skills will be fostered as students create intricate designs on a variety of materials. Students are able to bring their ideas to life through items like customized glasses, awards, phone cases and engraved signage.

“The lathes will help to teach precision measurement, blueprint reading and solutions development as students produce accurate, high-quality parts. They will develop industry-specific skills should they pursue a career pathway in machining.”

In the 2025 spring semester, 74 L-C students took a course in the Innovation Lab, 41 students in the Fabrication Shop and 122 students in the Fab Lab. Snowberry is hopeful that all of the new industrial hardware will provide additional students the opportunity to work on equipment at one time.

Luxemburg-Casco received a $25,000 DWD Fast Forward grant in April 2022, which in concert with matching funds enabled the purchase of five new pieces of equipment, including a FANUC Robotic Arm, for use at the start of the 2022-23 academic year.