New Partnership Launches INSPIRE Grant Program

NIMS, Gene Haas Foundation, and Edge Factor announced a new partnership to provide schools and training centers with cutting edge educational materials to inspire students and provide pathways to advanced manufacturing careers. Through the INSPIRE Grant Program, schools will receive funding towards eduFACTOR memberships, providing them access to and extensive library of cinematic films and TV series; CTE, STEM and event resources; hands-on CNC and 3D printing; and other interactive activities.

“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,” said 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.”

A recent survey found that only 30 percent of Americans believe that schools encourage students to pursue manufacturing careers, and that only one in three parents encourage their children to consider a career in manufacturing. The resources available in eduFACTOR, which is produced by Edge Factor, will directly address this perception by helping educators make manufacturing careers and technology relevant and exciting to students and their parents.

“We believe that everything starts with a good story, which is why we produce story-driven, cinematic films and accompanying resources that educators and business leaders use to inspire students and parents. With eduFACTOR, imaginations are sparked and careers are launched. 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,” said Jeremy Bout, the producer and host of Edge Factor. Through funding from Gene Haas Foundation, up to 500 schools will receive full access to eduFACTOR.

“We are committed to empowering companies and education institutions to build a skilled workforce in their communities by equipping them with the right knowledge, tools and resources,” says James Wall, the executive director of NIMS. “The INSPIRE Grant Program will enable more schools to deliver relevant and exciting information and career training to their students.”

“The Edge Factor video content is Hollywood quality and draws the audience into the fast paced and exciting world of manufacturing. By changing the way communities perceive manufacturing, they are moving the needle in education and workforce development. Without the Grant, it would not be possible to provide eduFACTOR memberships to schools across my district,” said Marlo Loria, the CTE director at Mesa Public Schools. “So many people talk about filling the skills gap, but Edge Factor is doing something about it.”

For more information about the INSPIRE Grant or to access an application, please visit here.

www.nimsready.org, ghaasfoundation.org, www.eduFACTOR.org