Funding thank yous!

We have had the great fortune of having community interest and support, both conceptually and financially. We'd like to take a moment to thank all of the organizations and people that have helped get The Ashland Innovation Center off the ground financially. Thank you to all of the following groups for their belief in what we are trying to do.

The Ashland Education Foundation (AEFI)

From day one, the AEFI told us they wanted to support our endeavor. Not only would they like to
fund us out of their annual budget, but they also wanted to support us by finding and applying for grants from corporations and organizations that support STEAM innovation. At the annual AEFI gala held last week, they announced a goal of raising $114,000 in support of the AIC makerspace and computer lab make-over. This is a long-term goal, to be funded over multiple years. This year they have already pledged over $35,000 which we are looking to invest in the AIC over the upcoming summer.
If you want to donate to help support our program, you can do that through this AEFI website link.

The Ashland Cultural Council (ACC)

Throughout Massachusetts, cultural councils are created by towns to support programs that benefit the community with arts and culture. Once we knew we were creating a mobile makerspace to launch the AIC, we reached out to the ACC for a monumentally helpful grant. Many towns participate in this program and it can be a great funding source for creating events and activities that are vital to your town. Thank you ACC!

Town of Ashland Selectmen (BAA)

Through the Boston Athletic Association grant program, the beginnings of our program were founded with a grant from the BAA. These grants are awarded based on decisions by the Board of Selectmen and fortunately for us, they saw value in what we wanted to start and provided us with our first funds. Thank you to the board and the BAA.

Anonymous Donor

When word got around to what we were trying to create, we were fortunate enough to have an anonymous donor reach out and make a sizable donation. We have already put these funds to great use.

When we decided to start the Ashland Innovation Center, we felt ambitious and full of hope that things would come together, knowing it would require teamwork, hard work, and money. From day one we had the team ready to put in the hard work, but we had no money. Thanks to multiple grant sources, over the past six months we have gone from no money, to a well funded space that has