We’re excited to announce that we’ve opened applications for the next cohort of Code/IT Academy, our free upskilling program! A partnership between The Mill, Duke Energy, Ivy Tech Community College, and the City of Bloomington, this program supports residents seeking to transition to higher-paying jobs in the digital economy.
What makes Code/IT Academy so effective is its combination of intensive training, career coaching, and job placement. We can’t say enough good things about the quality of instruction and support from our partners at Ivy Tech. If you’re motivated to change your life, this is a great opportunity!
Previously known as The Mill Code School, Code/IT Academy offers virtual training over 10 weeks. The fall 2021 program focuses on software development. You’ll learn skills in Python, CSS, HTML, Java, and more. In addition, you’ll receive one-on-one technical mentoring as well as career coaching. You don’t need to have any previous experience in coding, IT, or tech. The courses are self-guided. You can complete them while working full time.
“Code/IT Academy is a perfect fit with Ivy Tech’s expertise and our mission,” said Adam Gross, Executive Director of Career Coaching and Employer Connections. “We’re making tech skills accessible for everyone, regardless of income, job status, or previous education. We’re empowering Hoosiers to transition to great new careers where they can earn higher wages.”
Upskilling Powered by Duke Energy
In June of 2020, the Duke Energy Foundation awarded us a $34,000 Powerful Communities Workforce Development grant. Their generous support enables us to offer Code/IT Academy at no cost. Their sponsorship ensures that the un- and underemployed and those typically underrepresented in tech have access to opportunity. In short, we couldn’t do it without them.
The Duke Energy Foundation’s Powerful Communities program makes strategic investments to build powerful communities where natural resources thrive, students can excel and a talented workforce drives economic prosperity for all. The Foundation annually funds approximately $2 million in shareholder-funded grants to communities throughout Duke Energy’s Indiana service area.
Bruce Calloway, Government & Community Relations Manager for Duke Energy, presented us with our check earlier this summer. “We hear consistently from Indiana businesses that well-trained workers are one of their greatest needs,” Bruce told us. “With this training, more of our community’s residents can enter the 21st century economy with the valuable skills that employers seek.”
In fall of 2020, we launched our coding program with a $100,000 Recover Forward grant from the City of Bloomington. The pilot program received 120 applications for 40 slots. Of that round, 60% of graduates have secured new jobs. Then, in July of 2021, a second cohort focused on IT administration. Over 20 diverse participants earned credits toward an academic pathway at Ivy Tech while preparing to take the CompTIA Network+ exam. Job placement for all graduates is ongoing.
Applications for the third cohort, focused again on software development, are open now and close on September 24.