Minneapolis Plugged In To 'TechHire' Program
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – President Barack Obama announced Monday that Minneapolis is among the first of 20 regions about to get a major infusion of money and training for tech jobs.
Mayor Betsy Hodges has partnered with the White House for the training program, known as "TechHire."
The program works like this: Universities and community colleges will teach students the skills they need in just a few months to secure a technology job.
Many of these programs don't require a four-year degree.
The initiative also emphasizes non-traditional teachings like "coding boot camps," and online courses.
Hodges, along with other city leaders around the region, joined the president in Washington D.C. for the announcement on Monday.
The mayor said three high-quality, fast-track training programs have been developed in the Twin Cities to coincide with the TechHire initiative.
Prime Digital Academy, IT-Ready and Concordia University will expand their programs to train a total of 300 students this year for entry-level software positions.
The president said it's important to build a pipeline of tech workers for this country.
"If we're not producing enough tech workers, over time that's going to threaten our leadership in global innovation, which is the bread and butter of 21st century economy," Obama said.
Locally, Hodges says more than 60 employers have made commitments to help place students in software development, networking, and technical support jobs throughout the metro.
How big is the technology field in Minnesota?
According to the mayor's office, the latest research from Tech America shows the state has more than 120,000 tech workers.
The annual salaries are also very competitive, averaging about $79,000.
