The Laboratory for Education and Application Prototypes facility at Western New England University (WNE) is a state-of-the-art optics/photonics training center dedicated to engaging students as well as our local community for workforce development. LEAP@WNE, initially funded by a $2.5M grant from Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2), adds Western Massachusetts to the established national ecosystem dedicated to global manufacturing leadership in integrated optics/photonics.