A $50,000 STEM BEST grant has been awarded to the Des Moines school district to expand its welding program at Central Campus.

The grant, provided through the Iowa Department of Education’s STEM BEST Program, will be used to add eight new welding booths and upgrade the lab’s ventilation system.

The expansion will increase capacity at the Central Campus welding lab by 40%, allowing more students to participate in hands-on, industry-aligned training beginning in the 2026–27 school year, according to a district news release. Welding instructors and student interns will fabricate the new booths, providing additional learning opportunities.

The grant aligns with the Des Moines school district’s Reimagining Education initiative, which includes expanding access to career and technical education programs across the district, as well as supports the district’s goal of increasing the number of students earning a Diploma Plus credential.