Calhoun College Foundation Receives $500,000 Advanced Manufacturing Grant
On Wednesday, March 2, the Gene Haas Foundation presented a $500,000 grant to the Calhoun College Foundation to support the college's Computer Numerical Control or CNC Lab. The lab is located inside the Advanced Technology Center at the Calhoun Community College Decatur campus.
The grant was awarded in exchange for naming rights to the lab which is now called The Gene Hass Center for Advanced Manufacturing. The grant will also help fund any expansion plans for the lab and create more training opportunites for manufacturing technology students.
“The Gene Haas Foundation has been a consistent supporter of our advanced manufacturing students through scholarships over the years,” said John Holley, Calhoun Dean of Technologies. “Calhoun’s technologies programs are recognized across the region as one of the best workforce development training facilities, and by partnering with The Gene Haas Foundation, that has only strengthened our efforts,” added Holley.
Gene Haas is the founder, president, and sole stockholder of Haas Automation, a CNC machine tool manufacturer. Haas Automation is the largest machine tool manufacturer in the United States. The Gene Haas Foundation was established in 1999, to support the needs of the local community and support manufacturing training programs throughout North America.
"The presentation of this gift today speaks highly of the commitment of everyone here at Calhoun working diligently to ensure that relevant training meets the needs of our local and regional industries", said Crystal Brown, President and CEO of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce.
"As your workforce partner, we celebrate the significance of the Haas Foundation grant. It will not only help provide the best high demand CNC training and advanced manufacturing education possible, but it will ultimately increase earning potential for countless highly skilled graduates thus impacting the lives of numerous families", said Brown.
The official renaming of the building and ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place later in the year. Click here for more information about Calhoun's technologies programs.