KEENE, NH – Keene State College is receiving federal funding to expand precision manufacturing training and education capacity.

According to a news release, the $3 million grant, part of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2024 and secured by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, is meant for programs focused on ultra-precision manufacturing, optics, and thin-film coatings.

KSC will use the funding to offer additional courses for college credit, non-credit training, employer-based training, micro-credentials, and interdisciplinary applied research. The release says there are several businesses within 100 miles of Keene State that thrive in diamond-turning machining, thin films, specialty glass, and advanced optics.

Keene State offers a degree is Sustainable Product Design & Innovation.

“Because of the specialized nature of this education and training and the emerging innovation of regional employers, we require broader investment to extend beyond our current curriculum offerings,” Dr. Jim Kraly, the college’s associate dean for academic program innovation, said. “The regional precision manufacturing and optics ecosystem is growing faster than it can attract skilled talent. Now we can do more to help build a deeper pipeline to meet these businesses’ needs and better serve our current and future students.”

This market need is not looming, it’s here, Kraly said.

“These funds could not have come at a better time, so we are grateful for Senator Shaheen’s understanding of that and her continued support for the college and the businesses in this part of the state.”

Shaheen secured more than $100 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for projects across the state, including resources to support support the childcare crisis, housing shortage, a wage hike for service members, clean water, transportation, and mental health education.

“I am pleased to support Keene State College’s leadership in these critical fields and am glad to have secured this funding to help the college expand and grow these programs,” Shaheen said. “By investing in training and education in these emerging industries, we can support the workforce and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of well-educated people ready to work in the jobs of the future.”

The legislation has been signed into law by President Joe Biden.