Tennessee Tech announced October 8 that it received a $434,204 grant through the Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning program, led by IACMI - The Composites Institute. The funding supports expanded metal-casting education and workforce training for students, educators and industry professionals. It is not a cash award paid directly to every participant. The university says the first of two free fall bootcamps begins October 24 and continues over four weekend sessions. Its release also lists November 14, 15, 21 and 22 as additional session dates. Adults interested in a seat should use the university's registration route to confirm the exact cohort calendar and current space rather than assuming every listed date belongs to one course. Training includes eight hours of online instruction and 32 hours of hands-on work at Tech. Topics include casting, forging, computer-aided design, pattern making, tooling, quality control, heat treatment and metal testing. The release says registration is free and open to adults ages 18 and older. The university says earlier 2025 bootcamps served 61 participants. Under the new grant, it plans 12 bootcamps over two years and outreach to nearly 400 students through community-college and K-12 partnerships. Those future targets should not be reported as completed attendance. The release says participants who complete training will earn industry-recognized certification, but does not name a credential issuer or describe every employer's acceptance. It also describes a planned new foundry home in the ACME Building, scheduled for fall 2028. The current training announcement and future building schedule are separate developments. Limits: free registration is not a confirmed available seat, guaranteed job, apprenticeship placement or wage increase. This brief uses the university's original rather than the secondary report's different outreach figure. Use the original release and its registration link for the current calendar, requirements and enrollment information.