Generation West Virginia, Mountwest, Jobcase, & Partners Launch Training Program to Build Tech Talent Pipeline

HUNTINGTON, W.Va., Oct. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Generation West Virginia (“GWV”), alongside program partners and committed employer partners, announced in a press conference the launch of a six-month intensive technology training program, NewForce, and is now accepting applications. Developed in partnership with Mountwest Community and Technical College in Huntington, NewForce is a tuition-free, in-person, team-based intensive tech training program created by employers, community colleges, and nonprofits to ensure West Virginians have the right tech skills for companies who are ready to hire in the Mountain State.

“At Generation West Virginia, we don’t think you should have to leave home to find a job you love. We are committed to developing programs so more people can stay and succeed in the Mountain State,” said Natalie Roper, Executive Director of Generation West Virginia.

Through the intensive six-month curriculum, NewForce students work together, receive mentorship, and graduate with in-demand software development skills and direct connections to jobs. The program finishes with a Job Interview Day where the program’s employer partners - Advantage Technology, Core10, Mountain Leverage, N3, Sparksoft, and Strictly Business Computer Systems - interview NewForce graduates for open positions. Workforce West Virginia labor trends data indicates that software developers in West Virginia make between $47,000 and $90,000 per year, depending on experience.

“NewForce will be instrumental in helping us connect with software development grads who are the right fit for our dynamic culture,” said Lee Farabaugh, Co-founder of Core 10. “We are already believers in the Nashville Software School model, having hired numerous grads from that program and we can’t wait to expand this type of technology skill development in West Virginia.”

“We are excited to be joining NewForce as an Employer Partner because our success as a company depends on our ability to hire highly qualified team members and get the job done,” said Steve Platz, Director of Acquisitions at Advantage Technology and NewForce Employer Partner.

This program is made possible through support from Generation West Virginia, in-kind statewide outreach and applicant support from Jobcase, in-kind proven curriculum and advising from Nashville Software School, and support from Mountwest and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System.

“It has been apparent to me for some time that higher education needs to teach IT programming differently,” said Sarah Tucker, Chancellor of the West Virginia Community and Technical College System. “I couldn’t be more excited to help bring this opportunity to West Virginia.”

“The NewForce program partnership holds great promise for our region and potentially for the entire state. This innovative model will quickly increase the area’s trained workforce in software programming which will draw new employers to the area,” said Dr. Keith Cotroneo, President of Mountwest Community and Technical College. “Mountwest has phenomenal IT faculty who are excited about building this new model. We look forward to working with Generation WV, in-state employers, and other partners to establish Huntington as a technology hub in the eastern US.”

Jobcase, a key outreach partner for NewForce, is the social media platform for the future of work and serves a community of over 90 million members across the U.S. In West Virginia, Jobcase connects hundreds of thousands of residents to online job listings, career assistance, resume tools, and peer-to-peer advice.

“As a free and open community, Jobcase empowers individuals and groups to get the support they need to succeed. We’re thrilled to be working together with Generation West Virginia and local organizations to expand economic opportunity in the Mountain State,” said Christopher Scranton, Director of Nonprofit & Government Partnerships at Jobcase, Inc.

NewForce’s curriculum is based on a time-tested model from Nashville Software School, a leader in employer-driven technology training and a partner of the program. NewForce graduates will possess comprehensive knowledge of in-demand software development languages including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as well as deep knowledge of Microsoft’s C#/.NET software stack.

"Nashville Software School has been refining our immersive, hands-on web development bootcamp curriculum for over six years with almost 700 successful graduates. The program is longer and more comprehensive than most because our 250+ employer partners asked for more in-depth training than typical bootcamps. We are proud that Generation WV invited us to share our proven program as a NewForce program partner," said John Wark, Founder & President of Nashville Software School.

There is no requirement for experience in coding, software development, or math to be eligible to apply for NewForce. Prospective students can learn more about the program and apply at www.newforce.co.

About Generation West Virginia

Generation West Virginia is the statewide organization dedicated to attracting, retaining and advancing young talent in the Mountain State. For more information, visit www.generationwv.org or contact info@generationwv.org.

About Jobcase

The Jobcase mission is to empower American workers. Jobcase.com is the free open-access social media platform where over 90 million registered members manage all aspects of their work lives. Jobcase technology also powers over 100 job sites and many non-profit driven activities via its Jobcase network. Jobcase has emerged as one of the fastest growing technology companies in Boston and is an industry-affiliated partner of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, CSAIL. For more information, visit www.jobcase.com or contact LaunchSquad for Jobcase.

CONTACT: Carling McManus info@generationwv.org 617-240-7311; Danielle Toboni dtoboni@launchsquad.com