MANKATO, MN – (March 4, 2025) — The Mankato Area Foundation (MAF) has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Mankato Makerspace to support its capital campaign, which aims to expand its current location to meet the growing demand for creative programming. The grant was awarded from a donor advised fund of MAF, with the donor wishing to remain anonymous.

The Makerspace is a regional creative hub providing workspace, tools, and classes for local entrepreneurs, hobbyists, and artists. The facility includes dedicated areas for woodworking, ceramics, metalworking, glass art, textiles, laser engraving, painting, 3D printing, screen printing, and jewelry making. In the recent years, the Makerspace has experienced a 72 percent increase in group, school, and youth programming and a 36 percent rise in class participation.

The grant serves as an initial investment in the Makerspace’s $500,000 capital campaign, which will fund a 6,000-square-foot expansion. The additional space will accommodate new artist studios, classrooms, and event spaces, enabling the Makerspace to further its mission of fostering creativity and entrepreneurship.

“This support allows us to expand our membership, instruction, and studio space—all of which are in high demand,” said Tyler Vaughan, board treasurer of the Makerspace. “We’re excited to create more opportunities for our community to explore their creativity, which not only enhances cultural offerings in our region but also provides valuable mental health benefits and helps build essential skills for our local workforce.”