MAKERS Act

The MAKERS Act would require the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award competitive grants to colleges and university consortia to support research and development of makerspaces and to help form a STEM-capable workforce. A makerspace is a community space with tools and knowledge for learners and entrepreneurs that supports prototyping, interdisciplinary learning, and opportunities for personal growth, workforce training, and early-stage ventures. The bill emphasizes researching how makerspaces engage students and communities in STEM, developing best practices, and providing equipment and other supportive activities. It prioritizes partnerships with workforce development groups, high-need local education agencies, and minority-serving institutions, with special emphasis on community colleges and rural or underserved settings. There is a clear restriction that funds for constructing new buildings are limited unless safety or equipment needs require it, and NSF can provide technical assistance to grant recipients. Overall, the bill aims to expand access to hands-on, informal STEM education through makerspaces, promote collaboration and hard/soft skills valued by employers, and build a broader, more STEM-capable workforce—especially in rural, high-need, and minority-serving contexts.