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Defiance Area Foundation Awards $10,000 Grant to Ignite Academy for Mobile Welding Initiative

Pictured with the grant are (L to R) Haden Fowler – Junior at Defiance High School (DHS) , Alex Fox – Junior at DHS, Rita Kissner – DAF grants committee member and Remi Carreto – Senior at DHS.

The Defiance Area Foundation (DAF) awarded a $10,000 grant to Ignite Academy during the 2026 Spring Grant Cycle through the Defiance County Capital Projects Fund, under their umbrella.

The funding will support Ignite Academy’s Mobile Welding Workforce Initiative, which will bring hands-on welding training directly into schools, businesses, and community settings through portable mobile welding units.

The initiative aims to introduce students to welding skills, safety practices, and career opportunities in the skilled trades while helping strengthen the future workforce pipeline across Defiance County.