Innovation and Education Receive Boost from CMI2 ILLUME Program in Marion County
March 31, 2026
by CHARLES HERRINGTON
Originally Published: Mar. 24, 2026 at 10:11 PM CDT
COLUMBIA, Miss. (WDAM) - A defense innovation company that is boosting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Jefferson Davis County is now reaching out to support other school district career and technical education programs.
Originally Published: Mar. 24, 2026 at 10:11 PM CDT
COLUMBIA, Miss. (WDAM) - A defense innovation company that is boosting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Jefferson Davis County is now reaching out to support other school district career and technical education programs.
It helps enhance STEM education through the use of 3D printing technology, robotics and drones.
CMI2 has already provided a forklift for the county’s career and technical education program.
“We requested to expand it, so we’re moving into other counties now, so this is an extension of what we’ve been doing.”
The grant from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) that kicked off the program was for $300,000.
A new grant from the DRA for $500,000 is funding the program expansion.
Other CMI2 robot and drone demonstrations will take place Wednesday in Jefferson Davis County and Thursday in Covington County.
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