In recognition of the contribution, MAMC will name the new facility’s 8,000-square-foot CNC machining training center the Gene Haas Advanced Machining Lab, according to Director Derek Scarbro. Marshall University officials have designated a new MAMC headquarters as a top priority. Fundraising is underway for the $20 million, 55,000-square-foot headquarters to be constructed on the former ACF Industries site on Third Avenue in Huntington.
Kathy Looman, Executive Director of the Gene Haas Foundation, said MAMC was selected for the $1 million award because of the passion of its staff and the creativity of its program to educate the next generation of skilled machinists.
“These exclusive capital grants endorse the best CNC training programs in North America and Europe,” Looman said. “Candidate programs are teaching the most advanced manufacturing processes prior to their selection for this honor. Their exemplary programs are in high demand … and exhibit excellent relationships with and serve the needs of local industry.”
“We are deeply grateful for this generous gift and proud to announce the Gene Haas Advanced Machining Lab,” said Marshall University President Brad D. Smith. “This gift strengthens our programs within the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center and serves as a catalyst for our community. The lab will equip students and community partners with the hands-on training that will open doors, build careers and fuel the growth of West Virginia’s manufacturing industry.”
Scarbro commended the foundation for its continuing support. “For nearly a decade, the Gene Haas Foundation has funded scholarships for individuals in our Machinist Technology/CNC career skills program, many of whom are first-generation college students,” he said. “This new $1 million donation will allow us to educate even more machinists in a state-of-the-art facility equipped with the latest technology.”
A recent survey of 83 West Virginia manufacturers conducted for MAMC by the Marshall University Center for Business and Economic Research for MAMC found that state companies expect to hire nearly 7,000 manufacturing workers over the next three years, including more than 500 machinists.
“We’re not only educating individuals for good-paying careers as machinists but providing the skilled talent that manufacturers require to innovate and grow their businesses,” Scarbro said. “The generosity of the Gene Haas Foundation is an economic boost to our entire state and region.”
MAMC launched its Machinist Technology/CNC Program in Huntington in 1998 and expanded to South Charleston in 2024 to meet growing demand for skilled machinists. Students earn individual industry credentials as well as one-year certificates and two-year associate degrees through MAMC’s partnerships with Mountwest and BridgeValley community and technical colleges.
MAMC’s hands-on student labs and shared manufacturing centers feature more than a dozen Haas Automation CNC mills, lathes and multi-axis machining centers. In addition to its career skills program, MAMC provides customized training for individuals and companies as a certified Haas Testing Center.
“We appreciate the sincere generosity of the Gene Haas Foundation for this extraordinary gift,” said Nico Karagosian, president and CEO of the Marshall University Foundation. “This machining lab will give learners access to the same advanced tools used in world-class manufacturing environments and prepare them to lead West Virginia’s workforce.”
The philanthropic organization was founded in 1999 by the owner of Haas Automation, the largest American manufacturer of CNC machine tool technology. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $225 million to educate individuals in the machine tools trades and improve the quality of life for communities nationwide. To learn more about MAMC’s Machinist Technology/CNC Program, visit www.mfg.marshall.edu/machinist-cnc.