After WCMU reported earlier this month that a STEM education facility in Alpena was shuttering due to a lack of federal funding, a local organization made a $33,750 donation to give it a lifeline.
STARBASE is a program run by the Department of Defense that works with local schools to provide free, hands-on science and math education. All 90 locations closed this past month after Congress was not able to agree on a budget for the program.
The program entered its fiscal year in October without funding and was operating under a continuing resolution that provided limited funds, which ran out earlier this year.
STARBASE Alpena director, Steve Tezak, said the donation from the Economic Generator Network is now allowing the center to open its doors, at least for the next month.
"This gives us a chance to not only get back in the building and continue our mission, but with a renewed purpose of making sure that if something like this happens again, we can be ready for it," Tezak said.
Tezak said he still hopes Congress can approve a $60 million budget for all locations across the country. The U.S. Senate appropriation falls $40 million short of the House proposal.
STARBASE Alpena is also continuing to fundraise for an additional $67,500 in matching dollars from EGN. That would get the program through the summer, Tezak said, while the federal budget is in a "grey area."
Tezak said it's a large fundraising goal, but he believes EGN would not give STARBASE a task it couldn't acheive.
Jackie Krawczak, representing EGN, said the board decided to support the program after reading WCMU's coverage in the Alpena News.
"(EGN) is not just about new businesses and growing businesses," Krawczak said. "(We) look all the way down and (ask), 'what does our future need our youth to be into and to become for our region to be economically successful?'"
She said the group believes expanding access to STEM education through a program like STARBASE can be a form of long-term workforce development.
"When they saw a very valuable program was no longer going to continue, they realized that would have a significant impact on the economic future of the region because that's one key way youth are getting those (STEM) skills," Krawczak said.
With the reopening after a three-week closure, Tezak said 200 students are on their way to the facility next week from Atlanta and Alpena public schools.
Check out WCMU's original coverage on the closure and the community's response.
