Locally Manufactured PPE & Other Medical Equipment

Producing personal protective equipment to protect medical professionals in central Wisconsin from COVID-19

Full Project Name:Locally Manufactured PPE & Other Medical EquipmentPrimary Community Organization:CREATE Portage CountyAward Amount:$11,439.00

Award Date

April2020

Project Duration:3 months

Project Description Narrative:

The COVID-19 global pandemic has caused a worldwide shortage of the heavy-duty N95 masks and eyewear utilized by health care professionals to prevent contamination. In response, CREATE Portage County has converted its IDEA Center to support the production of high-need personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical professionals and emergency responders in central Wisconsin. Through this award, project partners will scale up the ability to use 3D printed plastics to fill the production gap and support front line health care professionals and first responders in accessing needed PPE and additional medical equipment.

Additional community partners: The Resource Group - Ascension WI North Central; Calnan Design Group; Marshfield Clinic Health System; St. Michael's Foundation; The Worth Company; Skyward; Gambe-Johnson, LLC; and other community organizations, businesses, and members

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Produced more than 4,000 face shields that were distributed to 68 separate organizations across 94 locations, exceeding the initial goal of producing 1,500 face shields
Established relationships with several regional manufacturing companies to source materials including plastics, elastic, and filament during supply chain challenges related to the pandemic
Established production process that has now been handed over to a local company to further produce face shields for the local health care providers