A $5.4 million federal grant could create pathways into technology careers for more than 250 unemployed or underemployed metro Atlanta residents.
The City of Refuge, a community center on the Westside, is hosting the Tech Transformation Academy, funded by a U.S. Department of Labor grant. The program will train residents in web development and cybersecurity through partnerships with Atlanta’s DigitalCrafts tech bootcamp and Carolina Cyber Center at Montreat College.
The goal is to train 280 people in the next four years and place graduates in technology careers with partnering companies, such as Cox Enterprises, Elavon, EY and UPS. The first 40 students start classes, which are available full- or part-time, in mid-August. City of Refuge anticipates graduates will enter the field with a starting salary of $55,000 or complete a one-year internship with a corporate partner at a starting salary of $36,000.
Training bootcamps have become an increasingly popular way to skill workers for careers in the technology industry. Hiring workers based on skills and certifications rather than four-year degrees helps companies broaden their application pool and opens opportunities for high-paying jobs to more people.
Corporate tech giants such as Microsoft, Google and Apple say they no longer require employees to have a college degree. As Microsoft hires employees for its 90-acre campus located near City of Refuge in Grove Park, these training programs could combat gentrification and displacement.
Rodney Sampson, investor and Opportunity Hub CEO, says rapid upskilling efforts are the best way to ensure long-time residents benefit from tech investments in their communities.
"We’ve got to upskill thousands of people in the next decade to meet the demands of companies coming here,” Sampson said. “That’s going to be key.”
The Tech Transformation Academy builds on the training programs already available at City of Refuge, which also provides people in need with food, shelter, mentorship and career help. The center also hosts Microsoft’s Accelerate: Atlanta program, which has 12- to 16-week courses ranging from Microsoft fundamentals to more advanced coding.
The academy is free and operates on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applicants go through an interview process to gauge their background and digital literacy before joining the program, said Jeannie Ross, the director of City of Refuge’s workforce innovation hub.
DigitalCrafts, a startup that began in the Atlanta Tech Village six years ago, is providing curriculum and instructors for web development courses. The startup and City of Refuge have employer networks that they will leverage to place graduates in tech careers.
“Our strategy is to get companies in the door to teach or talk to the class,” Ross said. “When people start to invest their time and energy and get to know the students, that goes a long way.”
Having that established employer network allows DigitalCrafts and City of Refuge to bypass college degree requirements because of their reputation among tech companies, said Natalie Cataldo, the student success manager at DigitalCrafts.
The City of Refuge has hosted full open houses to introduce the program to interested residents, including people from all over the metro Atlanta area with a wide range of backgrounds, Ross said. The grant specifically targets the 30314 and 30318 neighborhoods on the Westside, where the center has advertised the program.
City of Refuge’s wraparound services, such as providing childcare or MARTA cards, are available to those completing the program, Ross said. The center also has two case managers to provide additional support and teach leadership and soft skills.
