1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Making Advances Kinetic Education, Research, and Skills Act or the MAKERS Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Maker communities can be found in both rural and urban communities throughout the Nation. (2) Making has been shown to engage and motivate children and adults in STEM disciplines. (3) Informal education and makerspaces promote skills that employers desire, such as technical skills, problem-solving skills, teamwork, and analytical skills. (4) Studies have shown that underrepresented populations often have better successes in informal and out-of-school STEM than in formal STEM programs. (5) Some studies have shown that makerspaces help to build not only technical hard skills but also collaboration and other soft skills that employers desire. 3. Purpose The purpose of this Act is to encourage the formation and study of makerspaces to— (1) engage populations within community colleges and community environments in STEM programs; (2) develop desirable STEM technical and other skills, including collaboration; and (3) build a STEM-capable workforce. 4. Definitions In this Act, the following definitions apply: (1) Historically Black college or university The term “historically Black college or university” has the meaning given the term “part B institution” under section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1061 ). (2) Makerspace The term makerspace means a community space that— (A) provides access to tools, technology, and knowledge for learners and entrepreneurs; (B) results in the prototyping or creation of physical goods, interdisciplinary learning, and educational innovation