July 12 was an exciting day at the Peak Innovation Center in Fort Smith as city, state, and industry leaders gathered to dedicate the Gene Haas Computer Integrated Machining Lab. According to the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, “the Peak Innovation Center received a $1 Million Grant from the Gene Haas Foundation for the expansion of the Computer Integrated Machining lab. The Gene Haas Foundation, founded in 1999 by Gene Haas, owner of Haas Automation Inc., is a California-based private foundation committed to advanced manufacturing education. Haas Automation Inc. is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools, which Haas started in 1983. The dedication ceremony today was an exciting reminder of the great community support, partnerships, and energy our River Valley has for workforce development and education initiatives.”

Read the full story on the Fort Smith Public Schools website.