Microsoft headed to El Paso with TechSpark program
Microsoft announced Friday morning they will be bringing their TechSpark program to El Paso, a civic program designed by the company to foster economic opportunity and job creation in communities.
The El Paso project, which will be led by Jonathan Childress, aims to stimulate economic growth in Texas by concentrating on regional internet connectivity, digital skills development, career pathways, nonprofit support and digital business transformation.
“I’m excited to be part of the TechSpark initiative in El Paso. I was born and raised here and am eager to pair my experience as an entrepreneur with my passion for civic engagement to help foster greater economic opportunity and job creation in the region. TechSpark Texas will help ensure our diverse community has the tools and technologies needed to thrive in today’s economy,” Childress said in a press release.
Microsoft’s TechSpark programs aim to train a strong workforce and help communities solve economic issues through education in technology, which could lead to greater economic investment in these communities.
” Technology is rapidly changing our economy, including how we communicate, learn, work and access health care and other essential services, creating opportunities as well as challenges. Regions outside of major metropolitan areas sometimes have been affected by the challenges even more than the country’s largest cities,” wrote Microsoft President Brad Smith in a blog post.
Smith is set to visit El Paso Monday to give a talk on Artificial intelligence.
” By partnering closely with communities on the ground, we aim to learn more about regional challenges and how technology can help local economic growth and create jobs, with a plan to share our learnings more broadly,” Smith wrote.
TechSpark was originally introduced last October in Fargo, North Dakota & Appleton, Wisconsin. Other programs will also be introduced in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Boydton, Virginia; and Quincy, Washington.
