Kid’s Innovation Playground is receiving $81,000 from the Neighborhood Assistance Program, a grant program operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Kid’s Innovation Playground, a STEM education program for children in the Slippery Rock area, will add 24 additional classes and increase its Tech Tinkering drop-in program by three hours per week to serve more than 500 children and youth in 2025.

According to Kid’s Innovation Playground’s grant summary, children in rural Western Pennsylvania, specifically in a 30-mile radius of Slippery Rock, do not have opportunities for science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) education and experiences outside school. The grant money aims to provide more STEAM activities to the Slippery Rock area.

Lorraine Shaffer, executive director of Kid's Innovation Playground, said Monday, Jan. 13, that the money will help expand engineering programs to students in grades eight to 12. New offerings include engineering programs, drone lessons and potentially a Lego robotics club.

“We're expanding into older kids and expanding to teach them engineering automation,” Shaffer said. “We're only able to service about six to eight kids, but we're hoping the money will double the number in the fall so more kids can do things.”

The Neighborhood Assistance Program provides tax credits to businesses that contribute to nonprofit organizations’ efforts to revitalize communities. The program awarded support for 218 projects across Pennsylvania this round.