Talent Exists Everywhere... Opportunity Doesn't

We are beyond excited to announce today that Microsoft is expanding the successful five year pilot program of TechSpark from eight localized regions to all fifty states. Incredibly, this community-based program created 3,300 new jobs through entrepreneurial partnerships, trained over 1,000 computer science teachers, and infused over $125 million in catalytic funding across eight regions. TechSpark ensures everyone is able to benefit from the digital economy, by building local ecosystems with tools, resources, and thought partnership. And now we want to increase the magnitude of this program’s impact across the United States.

Why TechSpark? The digital divide between rural and urban areas has been a persistent challenge in many areas, with rural communities often lacking access to the same opportunities and resources as their urban counterparts. As we often like to state at Microsoft, “Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not.”

This is particularly true when it comes to technology, where a lack of investment and infrastructure can limit the potential for growth and innovation. However, many rural areas are home to a wealth of talent and potential, and it is important to explore ways to harness this potential and provide opportunities for growth and development. Seeking a bridge over this digital divide between those without opportunity, to spaces with opportunity, has been the focus of a handful of important place-based community engagement programs emanating from corporate and non-profit partners.

TechSpark is a civic engagement effort aimed at fostering economic opportunity and growth in underserved communities, particularly in rural and remote areas. By providing access to technology, training, and resources, the program is helping to bridge the digital divide and empower communities to take control of their own futures. Through a combination of partnerships, community engagement, and investment, the TechSpark program is making a real difference in the lives of rural residents and helping to drive economic growth and opportunity in these communities.

Over the past five years, TechSpark has focused on closing the digital divide and creating opportunities in the digital economy in rural and remote pilot areas. We do this work through bringing computer science to students, bringing broadband and free public Wi-Fi to areas that need it, upskill locals with digital skills and growing the entrepreneurial ecosystem to bring more capital investment to Wyoming startups.

K12 Computer Science Opportunity: We’ve partnered with the Wyoming Department of Education to host ongoing computer science training for more than 30 school districts across the state, impacting more than 60,000 K-12 students. We’re also collaborating with Code.org and the University of Wyoming to build the capacity of hundreds of K12 teachers to offer computer science education to thousands of students across the state. Microsoft’s TEALS high school computer science program has also partnered with six Wyoming high schools to build high-quality computer science education for approximately 500 students in Laramie, Gillette, Douglas, Casper, and Buffalo.

Access to Broadband: We’re focused on making the internet more accessible for the communities which makes way for even more educational and economic opportunities. That’s why we’ve invested in free Wi-Fi at key community locations such as two Laramie County Public Library sites. In close consultation with Microsoft’s Airband program, we’ve also partnered with Vistabeam to provide increased broadband access to 116,600 Wyomingites in the region, including a previously unserved rural population of 19,000 that had no access to broadband.

Skills for Jobs: We’ve invested in four adult upskilling programs to help respond to COVID-19 challenges and the upcoming digital transformation, including a LinkedIn Learning course to build the skills needed for specific jobs, a tech apprenticeship program with the Array School of Technology and Design, as well as the Skills Accelerator Wyoming program. These opportunities provide Wyoming citizens with scholarships and upskilling opportunities that allow them to pursue better-paying remote and in-region jobs.

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Growth: Microsoft has invested over $500K to build a technology sector in Wyoming that focuses on job creation, workforce development and fosters the Wyoming startup community. Through a startup accelerator, named “gBETA Wyoming,” we’ve helped 15 Wyoming startups raise nearly $3 million in investment capital to grow their companies and local technology jobs. We’ve also sponsored startup competitions in Laramie, Cheyenne, and the Wind River Reservation to bring attention and mentoring to budding Wyoming startups.

It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to help Microsoft design and execute the TechSpark program in my hometown of Cheyenne, WY. At Microsoft, we can’t wait to scale this program nationally to do our part to close the digital divide across the country and ensure everyone is able to benefit from a rapidly advancing digital economy. Opportunity to participate in this near future needs to exist for everyone, everywhere. 

For more information, we’ll be holding an information session on March 1 – sign up HERE.

Through the TechSpark program, Microsoft partners with communities to understand their unique regional challenges and to explore solutions, programs and partnerships that will be most effective at the local level.