Innovation District Awards Over $291,000 in TIF-Funded Grants to Strengthen STEM Education in Oklahoma City
Innovation District Awards Over $291,000 in TIF-Funded Grants to Strengthen STEM Education in Oklahoma City
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Innovation District’s STEM Education Workforce Development Committee awarded $291,375 in TIF-funded grants yesterday to seven local programs working to expand STEM education and workforce readiness.
The awards, presented in the form of oversized checks, will support initiatives ranging from STEM academies and tinkering programs to community-based learning experiences, connecting students to accredited educational pathways and high-demand career fields.
Grant recipients include:
Kidvation Global — $50,000
Class Matters — $50,000
Thinkverse — $15,100
Restore OKC — $43,500
Freedom City — $45,000
Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) — $40,300
Science Museum Oklahoma — $47,475
Dr. Lamkin, founder of Class Matters, said receiving the funding was a humbling moment — not just for his organization, but for the students it serves.
“We exist to rid the spirit of entitlement. Work for it, put effort toward it,” Lamkin said. “This funding lets us give students a true day in the life as a STEM professional. To go from one site to five sites is unheard of, and it means more young people will get hands-on exposure to careers that can change their futures.”
At OCCC, the grant will help launch a Fall STEM Academy in partnership with Millwood High School. Students will gain direct access to accredited higher education resources, industry-relevant curriculum, and recognized certifications that strengthen both college and career readiness.
“We’re very excited,”we’re going to do a STEM Fall Academy, and they [students] get to meet our professors. Our professors are amazing. In fact, the journal record voted us the best undergraduate teaching.” said Melissa Brevetti, Ph.D., Director of Grants at OCCC.
For Science Museum Oklahoma, the award will expand their long-running Student Night program, which draws schools, parents, and community partners into the museum after hours for interactive STEM experiences.
“It’s about creating moments that stick,” said Chris Syfrett, Tinkering Initiatives Manager. “When students get to explore, build, and experiment in a space designed for curiosity, you can see the spark happen in real time, and that spark can grow into a passion that lasts well beyond the night itself.”
The Innovation District’s TIF funding program demonstrates how targeted investments in STEM education can ripple through classrooms, households, and entire communities. By equipping educators, supporting nonprofits, and creating pathways into high-demand industries, the committee is investing in Oklahoma City’s future workforce — one student at a time.
