Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) has announced that Toyota Tsusho has given $30,000 for a Makerspace Project on the Middlesboro campus. The project will provide workspace, tools and instruction to help people learn new skills, explore their creative passions, start new businesses and grow existing businesses.

According to SKCTC President Dr. Vic Adams, “Most makerspaces operate like gyms, where people become members in order to gain access. These members will be able to use facilities, equipment, and assistance they would not have access to on their own.”

The SKCTC makerspace will offer memberships to students, community members, and local entrepreneurs and business people. Its classes and workshops will teach tangible skills, such as business models, accounting and tax requirements, as well as intangible skills — business communication and customer service. Members will receive discounts on classes and reserved access to tools and machines in a dedicated lab of nearly 1,700 square feet. SKCTC’s advanced manufacturing and computer aided design (CAD) faculty will provide instruction and train makerspace mentors on the use of the makerspace equipment and machines.

“We are grateful to Toyota Tsusho and the company’s generous support,” says Adams. “This project will help SKCTC fulfill our mission to build better lives throughout our service region.”

The college anticipates opening the Makerspace Project in early January 2019. For more information, contact Gary Steenbergen at 606-499-0679 or gary.steenbergen@kctcs.edu.