The Precision Metalforming Association Educational Foundation awarded a total of $40,000 in grants to three programs created to enhance the U.S. metalforming workforce. The awards were made in early January, and included:

• $15,000 to the WIRE-Net School-to-Career Initiative: Where Futures Matter, a program for Cleveland, Ohio-area high schools in which the students will receive hands-on training in precisionmachining technology.
• $10,000 to McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, Ill., to help to underwrite the start-up costs of equipment for a 40-hour basic welding skills boot camp that will consist of 10 sessions serving at least 60 students. A key objective of the program is to reduce the number of open welding positions in the county by more than 50 percent.
• $15,000 to Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) in Cleveland, Ohio to help to fund Tri-C's Build a Cannon program that will allow 100 high school students to earn free college credit while simultaneously satisfying high school graduation requirements. Each student will be given materials to build a cannon, a project designed to introduce them to the high-tech world of modern manufacturing and allow them to get a jumpstart on pursuing a career in the industry.

The Foundation was established in 1996 to support and develop training and education for metalforming skills, and to improve the awareness of careers in metalforming. It is taking applications for the next grant cycle until March 1, 2007. Funding is awarded for organizations whose initiatives, programs and services promote, enhance and/or support the development of a metalforming workforce in the United States. Throughout the past five years, the foundation has awarded grants that have averaged $10,000. Anyone interested in applying for a grant can download an application at www.pmaef.org, or can contact the foundation staff at 216-901-8800.