Machine Tool Grant Project

Northcentral Technical College (NTC) was awarded $342,519 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) (DUE: 2201611) to build the machine tool workforce in central Wisconsin over the next three years (through September 30, 2025). The Retool Project focuses on machine tool technician training and careers, along with diversity and accessibility. Collaborating partners of the Retool Project include the Hmong American Center, Central Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (CWIMA), North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, NTC Machine Tool Advisory Committee, and employers including JARP Industries and Lange Machine & Tool Company.

Project Objectives

Objective #1

Increase awareness of, access to, and enrollment in Machine Tool technician educational and career pathways of non-traditional students with emphasis on Southeast Asian/Hmong adults.

Objective #2

Review and modify curriculum to include current machine tool technologies an trends, cultural sensitivity, flexibility, internships, and flexible deliver options.

Objective #3

Collaborate with the Hmong American Center, the Machine Tool Advisory Committee, and local manufacturing leaders to support recruitment, identification of Project mentors, and community outreach.

Objective #4

The project team will collaborate with regional cultural organizations, workforce development boards, job centers, and regional machine tool employers to implement and fulfill the full scope of work.

Prospective Students

The Machine Tool Technics program prepares learners to program, set up and operate various types of manual and computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines. Learners machine piece parts, and use precision measuring tools and instruments for parts inspection. The program encourages hands-on activities, creativity, problem-solving, and productivity in all phases of manufacturing. With a growing need of a skilled machinist workforce in central Wisconsin, this training leads to many career opportunities for completers. This program accepts new students on a full- or part-time basis. Please answer a few short questions and an enrollment advisor will contact you.

Connect With an Advisor

A machine tool student standing in front of equipment in the NTC Machine Tool Lab

Project Mentors

The Retool Project will utilize mentorships to foster successful completion of student training. Mentors, currently employed in the machine tool field, will guide our machine tool students through their educational journey by sharing their own educational and professional experiences, touring NTC’s machine tool lab to understand where the student is learning, encouraging the student through life challenges that could divert them from finishing the program, offering opportunities for job shadowing, and providing ideas for experience and networking. Mentors are asked to meet with their mentees for approximately 30 hours per semester and will be compensated $600 for the semester. Mentors can have two mentees at one time. If you are interested in learning more about how you can be a mentor, please fill out the attached link.

Learn More About Mentorship

A CNC Milling machine is cutting a rectangular shape out of a piece of metal.

Machine Tool Videos

Machine tool equipment bores holes in a part.

What is Machine Tool?

Metal shapes the world and machinists shape the future. Discover how raw materials transform into the products that shape our lives.

Meet Our Team

Our Retool Project team consists of two NTC veteran faculty members, Dr. Frank Fernandes (Physics) and Jeff Block (Machine Tool). Frank and Jeff's passion for lifelong learning and to technician training is second to none. They are both experts in their fields and they will help guide you through your educational journey at Northcentral Technical College.

Dr. Frank Fernandes

Physics Faculty

Frank is the Principal Investigator (PI) of the Retool Project. In his role as the PI, he oversees all grant objectives and action items and ensures grant compliance.

Jeff Block

Machine Tool Faculty

Jeff is the Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) of the project. In his role, he will assist the PI in oversight and work on related tasks. He will lead the curriculum modification process and co-facilitate workshops, outreach activities, and internships.

National Science Foundation

The Retool Machine Tool Grant is made possible through the NSF, Division of Undergraduate Education, Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program which seeks to improve the education of technicians in science and engineering. It is awarded under the federal award identification number 2201611.