TechForce Training Center
TechHire IT Training at Milwaukee TechForce Training Center
The Milwaukee TechForce Training Center, 1916 N. 4th Street, is the home of Employ Milwaukee's TechHire IT Training. Young adults ages 17-29 with a high school degree or equivalent and barriers to employment will be served, as well as incumbent workers and long-term unemployed. Training and placement will focus on occupations such as computer systems analysts, web developers, applications software developers, systems software developers, and computer user support specialists.
To register, or for information about the program, click here.
Milwaukee TechForce Training Center
The Milwaukee TechForce Training Center is a new education, training and workforce development facility designed to connect individuals to rewarding and in-demand careers in technology fields.
Located on Milwaukee’s near north side and close to public transportation, TechForce will provide thousands of nearby households and residents from throughout the city with easy access to its educational programming.
“We need more ways to connect people to available jobs, and the Milwaukee TechForce Training Center is an important new link in the pathway to in-demand tech fields,” said Mayor Tom Barrett. “TechForce is a new home for training and workforce development opportunities in Milwaukee.”
The Center is supported by an innovative partnership between the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM), Adult Learning Center (ALC), Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), Employ Milwaukee, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Featuring new classrooms and teaching technology, TechForce is co-located with the ALC to provide direct pathways for graduates of ALC’s adult basic education programs into the technology-focused programs of MATC, Employ Milwaukee, MPS and other partners.
HACM developed the Center after winning a competitive $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2012 to build a training center that would expand educational opportunities for Milwaukee residents. HACM approached ALC and its landlord, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, about renovating the Learning Center’s second floor into classroom space and adding a new entrance, study areas and administrative offices.
“We sought to maximize the impact of this investment by building off of the Adult Learning Center’s established program and developing a new, multi-tiered partnership focused on tech jobs,” said Tony Pérez, HACM Secretary-Executive Director. “This partnership creates a single pathway for adults of all educational levels to enter the tech workforce.”
“The key to this project is the key to all of the problems that we need to address as people of this city, and that is collaboration,” said Archbishop Jerome Listecki. “When we bring the Church together with government and other organizations to provide access to education, we make a difference for the common good.”
The training center will support Milwaukee’s efforts as a new “TechHire Community,” part of the White House’s TechHire Initiative to train U.S. workers for jobs in tech industries. Milwaukee’s initiative aims to train and place people into technology jobs. The TechHire workforce initiative will be led by Employ Milwaukee, Inc. in partnership with employers across industries and employer consortium's.
“I’m excited about this outstanding collaboration. Every high growth industry sector needs a strong IT workforce,” said Earl Buford, President and CEO, Employ Milwaukee. “The TechForce Center is an excellent example of how Milwaukee will put individuals on a career pathway in technical occupations.”
Over half a million of today’s open jobs are in technology fields like software development and cyber-security; many of which did not even exist a decade ago. The average salary in a job that requires technology skills is 50 percent more than the average private sector job.
There are an estimated 2,200 tech jobs available in the Milwaukee area.
“The TechForce Training Center has the potential to transform lives by bridging the technological divide,” said ALC Executive Director Herb Hayden. “Learners from neighborhoods throughout the city will be able to develop new technology skills to obtain family-supporting jobs and become strong economic contributors to their community.”
TechForce Honored By The Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDI)
The Milwaukee TechForce Training Center was one of three real estate projects honored as finalists for the 2016 MANDI State Farm Building Blocks Award. The award recognizes projects that are having a positive impact on the community. View the video produced by the MANDIs: