ASHEBORO, N.C. —North Carolina Rep. Jon Hardister presented Asheboro’s Joel Leonard with a state flag that was previously flown over the North Carolina Legislative Building in his honor.
Leonard was recognized for developing the first mobile “maker space” in North Carolina, called “MAKESBORO, USA.”
MAKESBORO, USA is packed with equipment used in manufacturing plants. The goal of the maker space is to take manufacturing equipment into rural and underserved areas of the Carolinas to expose youth and adults to tools and equipment that could lead them to prosperous career pathways that typically start at around $18 to $25 an hour.
Over the last several weeks, nearly 30 children have gone through the program. Leonard was also honored for his years of working with workforce development organizations and his efforts to help build the next generation of engineers, maintenance professionals and manufacturing employees.
