New North, a Green Bay economic development nonprofit, is working with big corporations like Microsoft and American Family Insurance, as well as Wisconsin startup accelerator gener8tor, to launch a free job training program for people to learn digital skills.
Called gener8tor Upskilling, the new program builds on Microsoft’s TechSpark program, which aims to foster economic growth worldwide. Gener8tor Upskilling will provide education to participants on digital skills that translate to in-demand jobs in the region. Under the program, participants will be able to earn certifications and be connected to local employers who have expressed need for digital skillsets.
“As the pandemic has displaced thousands of workers in our region, we are incredibly grateful to Microsoft for rolling out their global Skills initiative,” said Barb LaMue, the president and CEO of New North, in a statement. "We saw this as an opportunity to immediately match displaced workers with digital skills training and to work towards providing economic opportunity for all."
The application deadline is Aug. 3 and the program runs from Aug. 12-21. This first training program will prioritize individuals living in the Wisconsin counties of Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Waupaca, Brown, Shawano, Oconto, Marinette, Door, Kewaunee, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Florence, Menominee and Waushara.
The two-week program is aimed at quelling the high unemployment caused by the Covid-19 crisis. Other than Microsoft, the self-paced virtual curriculum has been designed by tech companies like LinkedIn and GitHub. Participants will be trained for roles like project managers, digital marketers and data analysts.
Participants will also receive one-on-one concierge support from the gener8tor team, and interview coaching and resume-writing help.
“We are committed to helping people gain the skills they need in order to move into available jobs within the digital era,” said Michelle Schuler, the manager of TechSpark Wisconsin, in a statement. “By focusing our efforts locally and partnering with incredible organizations like New North, American Family Insurance, and gener8tor, we can make a positive impact on our Wisconsin community, through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.”
