The Monadnock Art x Tech Makerspace in Peterborough won a $100,000 prize in the Makerspace Training, Collaboration and Hiring (MaTCH) Pilot Competition, U.S. Small Business Administration Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton announced last month. The SBA awarded $1 million in prize money to competition winners.
“It is my privilege to announce the 12 winners of the SBA’ s MaTCH Pilot Competition. The MaTCH competition is a testament to the SBA’s commitment to identifying employment opportunities and supporting small business’ workforce recruitment and retention,” Pilkerton said. “Makerspaces are uniquely positioned to help innovate training for the workforces of today and tomorrow, and spur economic development across the country. Through the MaTCH competition, the winners will be able to directly support vocational education, develop apprenticeships, and cultivate access to entrepreneurship. In addition, I am pleased to note that multiple winners are located in Opportunity Zones where job creation and investments are moving forward to revitalize communities.”
MAxT Makerspace developed a partnership with a local steel contractor, Guillou Construction in Milford with the objective of helping to address the growing need for qualified welders in construction and industry.
MAxT will use the award from SBA’s MaTCH competition to invest in capacity building improvements and to graduate more certified participants who will be trained to immediately enter into employment opportunities.