This award provides funding to Davie County Schools (DCS) to support the expansion of the Davie County Schools Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advanced Manufacturing Program. The program has outgrown its current classroom space and does not have adequate lab space. Student enrollment in advanced manufacturing and related courses is growing steadily and 77% of the Davie County High School student population has enrolled in at least one CTE course in the past two years. Multiple courses offered at DCHS related to the Advanced Manufacturing Program have met their registration caps and students are now placed on a waiting list. Additionally, the need for the advanced manufacturing lab is supported by industry demand as area companies lack sufficient skilled employees in the areas of automation, skilled maintenance, electrical and mechanical engineering, and machining. DCS will construct an advanced manufacturing lab and classroom facility at the Davie County High School (DCHS) Campus. Post-secondary education and industry partners have committed to provide training equipment for the Advanced Manufacturing Lab. The new facility will include the needed infrastructure to house the advanced manufacturing lab as well as flexible classroom spaces. Approximately 80 students are expected to complete Mechatronics, Robotics, and Technology Engineering and Design pathways and earn advanced industry recognized credentials per year when the project is complete. Golden LEAF funds will be used for construction and engineering/design costs.
