Antioch Made
Local + Built = Antioch Made
Antioch Made turns beginners with zero experience into makers and creators. Learn 3D printing, design, and fabrication – then take those skills wherever you want to go. Start a business selling locally made goods, land a job in manufacturing, or just unlock a creative side you didn't know you had.
The Initiative
Why Antioch Made?
Antioch has the people, the energy, and the need – but not enough local pathways from creativity to careers. Antioch Made bridges that gap by combining a makerspace, a marketing agency, and a community-rooted business into one training program.
Participants don't just learn skills in a classroom. They work on real projects, building portfolios they can take to employers or use to launch their own products.
A Third Space for Antioch
Antioch Made is more than training – it's a third space where community meets innovation. Not home, not work, but somewhere you go to level up your skills, unlock your creativity, and connect with your neighbors.
The pilot is funded by the City of Antioch Work Together Fund with matching funds from Pestec, demonstrating how small business partnerships can drive local economic development.
The Partners
Three Antioch-area businesses, each bringing something different to the table. Together, they cover facilities, training, outreach, and funding.
Pestec
Luis Agurto Jr. · Project Lead
Pestec provides facilities and anchors the initiative. Luis leads the program and coordinates across all partners.
Pestec is a local leader in Bay Area pest management and research, rooted in the Antioch community for decades.
Steward Advertising
Joshua Mendez Valdez · Outreach & Brand
Steward Advertising handles community outreach, recruitment, and brand identity for Antioch Made – connecting the program to local creatives and businesses.
Steward Advertising runs popular local brands like Antioch.town to promote community engagement in the area and help small businesses thrive.
Maker Pub
Myk Klemme · Curriculum & Instruction
Maker Pub develops training curriculum, provides equipment access, and delivers hands-on instruction in 3D printing, design, and fabrication.
Myk is an award-winning artist with a background in stained glass, digital art, and print design. He worked as a software engineer at companies like DocSend (acquired by Dropbox) and The Information before founding Maker Pub to give people a place to learn hands-on skills. He designs the training programs, builds the tools, and teaches the classes. He's also involved in the Celtic language revival through his work with Love.irish, helping promote awareness and create resources to make learning Irish more engaging and accessible.
What You'll Learn
3D Printing & Fabrication
Go from zero to operating FDM printers, preparing models, troubleshooting prints, and producing finished products.
Digital Design
Learn CAD tools and design workflows. Create models from scratch and modify existing designs for custom projects.
Selling What You Make
Learn how to price, market, and sell locally produced goods – whether at pop-ups, online, or through local retail.
Building a Portfolio
Every project you complete becomes part of your portfolio – proof of skills you can show to employers or customers.
Program Timeline
Pre-Launch
Jan – Feb 2026
Set up operations, finalize curriculum, and spread the word across the Antioch community. Outreach through local schools, community organizations, and social media.
Launch
Mar – Apr 2026
Public events, classes, and workshops begin. Participants learn 3D printing, digital design, and fabrication through hands-on projects – building skills and a portfolio along the way.
Showcase & Reporting
May 2026
Participants present what they've learned at a public showcase event. From here, some launch their own products, others pursue careers in manufacturing and design. Final report submitted to the City of Antioch.
Get Involved
Join the Program
Beginners, career changers, and creatives in the Antioch area – learn 3D printing and design from scratch.
Partner with Us
Local businesses and organizations – commission projects from our participants or sponsor the next cohort.
Follow Along
Sign up for updates to see what our makers are building and when the next showcase event is happening.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Antioch Made?
- Antioch Made is a skill training program that takes people with zero experience and turns them into makers and creators. It's a partnership between Pestec, Steward Advertising, and Maker Pub, partially funded by the City of Antioch Work Together Fund.
- Who is the program for?
- Anyone in the Antioch area who wants to learn hands-on skills – young adults, career changers, creatives, and curious beginners. No prior experience with 3D printing or design is required.
- Do I need any experience?
- None at all. The program is designed for complete beginners. We start from zero and build your skills step by step through hands-on projects.
- How long is the program?
- The pilot runs from January through May 2026. Public classes and workshops launch in March, with a final showcase in May.
- What skills will I learn?
- You'll gain hands-on experience with 3D printing, digital design tools, and fabrication – skills that can lead to a career in manufacturing, help you start a business selling locally made products, or simply unlock a new creative outlet.
- How is the program funded?
- Antioch Made is funded partially by a grant from the City of Antioch Work Together Fund, with matching funds from Pestec and in-kind contributions from Maker Pub. The program demonstrates how small business partnerships can create local economic opportunity.