A generous $250,000 sponsorship from Steel King Industries will support Mid-State Technical College in their plans to construct the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Technology and Apprenticeship (AMETA) Center in Stevens Point. Steel King and campaign and college representatives celebrated with a check ceremony at the project site dedication event in Stevens Point, Friday, July 22.  

Steel King’s sponsorship of the Welding Lab in the AMETA Center will help provide Mid-State students with advanced technical skills and knowledge for in-demand, successful careers, address the region’s workforce shortage and sustain and grow area businesses through the application of industry 4.0 and industry 5.0 equipment and processes. In addition to its $250K monetary donation, Steel King will donate all material storage products needed for the AMETA Center, including platforms, pallet racking and safety guarding products. 

"The next generation of skilled trade workers is vital for us to serve our customers with solutions and products for the material storage industry," said Brian Pfannes, president-elect for Steel King Industries. We believe the new AMETA Center will help close the skilled trades gap in our community, particularly with skilled welders. That’s why we are so excited to announce our $250,000 sponsorship of the AMETA Welding Lab. Steel King has thrived in this community for over 50 years. We've also been a direct beneficiary of having quality graduates from the Mid-State program, so we couldn't think of a better way to put words into action by investing in such an enormous resource, not only for all of the students and staff but also all of the other local businesses."

“Steel King’s generous sponsorship of the AMETA Center Welding Lab demonstrates the engagement of our stakeholders and their commitment to the vitality of central Wisconsin today and in the future,” said Mid-State President Dr. Shelly Mondeik. “The AMETA Center will produce a strong pipeline of relevant, skilled talent with opportunities for excellent, family-sustaining careers at companies like Steel King.”

With a planned construction in fall 2023 and an opening in 2024, the AMETA Center will be an approximate 50,000 square-foot facility slated for development on I-39 in the Stevens Point Industrial Park. It is expected to serve over 1,500 people per year through advanced programming to traditional technical college students and high school students, incumbent worker training, and new equipment and technology advancement demonstrations for central Wisconsin businesses. The facility is set to provide office space for the Wisconsin Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards (BAS) supporting the 14 apprenticeship programs available at Mid-State and the over 400 current local apprentices. Partnerships with central Wisconsin governmental agencies to assist in the project and a resident hall agreement with UW-Stevens Point for Mid-State student use are just a few of the many collaborations demonstrated in the project.

Public and private donations and grants have been received toward the construction of the AMETA Center, and fundraising efforts continue as the campaign now seeks to fully outfit the center with industry-standard equipment and supplies. Donations in any amount are gratefully accepted. To learn more or make a donation, please visit mstc.edu/partner.