The National Park College (NPC) Innovative Technologies Center (ITC) will host a grand opening for a new makerspace Friday, October 19 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 2233 Albert Pike Road.
The makerspace will provide a creative space to share ideas and build relationships that can lead to lifelong learning and career opportunities. It will be a place for employers, students, and community members to explore concepts and create prototypes. Students can interact with industry partners to explore career opportunities. The new makerspace will include 3D printers, 2D and 3D computer aided drafting software, virtual reality systems, laser engravers and laser cutters, a CNC router, Arduino and raspberry pi kits, drones, and an extensive collection of hand tools.
NPC was awarded a $95,000 regional workforce planning grant in October 2015, which the College used to develop a strategy for creating the ITC. In July 2016, NPC was awarded a regional workforce implementation grant for $866,869 to begin executing the plan to establish the ITC. The center was awarded an $890,280 regional workforce continuation grant from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE) in June 2018.
The event is free and open to the public.
