MSP TechHire

Overview

In response to the rapid growth of tech jobs, the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul have teamed up with regional employers and high-quality accelerated learning programs continuing to produce innovative programs and solutions to help meet this demand, including:

• Prime Digital Academy offers a Full Stack software development bootcamp as well as a newer user experience design program.
• NationalAble - IT Career Lab MN offers Minnesotans three different IT certifications – CompTIA Network+, Microsoft Modern Desktop Admin, and Cisco Certified Network Associate.
• Hack the Gap offers a UX design program and a software development training program. They also offer a free online Full Stack Foundations course and a UX design starter kit for those just getting started in this field.

MSP TechHire training partners prepare students through accelerated training boot camps or online training to become service/help desk, desktop support, software developers or user experience designers depending on which training students access. In addition to in-demand technical skills and job placement support, training includes soft skills like workplace communications as well as connections to employers looking at non-traditional candidates. Hired graduates receive ongoing support as they acclimate to their work environment to ensure long-term success and continued growth.

Since the program's first inception in 2015, MSP TechHire has:

• Graduated over 1,600 students from accelerated learning programs
• Guided 1,322 graduates to full-time positions at 500 employer partners
• Awarded 177 scholarships to low-income job seekers
• Placed approximately 85% of graduates into new careers

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Scholarships

Through the Full Stack Saint Paul program, the City of Saint Paul funds a limited number of scholarships each year to extend training opportunities to community members.

Scholarship applications must be received before starting an eligible training program.

Eligibility

To be eligible, the following criteria must be met:

• Live in Saint Paul;
• Be 18 years or older;
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• Be unemployed or underemployed;*
  • *Underemployed includes employed residents with wages or positions below their education/training level
• And either:
  • Be a member of an underrepresented community in technology (ie: people of color, women, or persons with disabilities) AND have a household income of 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or below; OR
  • Have a household income of 50% Area Median Income (AMI) or below

Scholarship Size

Saint Paul’s MSP TechHire scholarship program awards different-sized scholarships based on household income:

• If the household income is 30% or below the AMI, 100% or tuition will be covered.
• If the household income is between 50%-31% AMI, 80% of the tuition will be covered.
• If the household income is between 51%-80% AMI, 60% of the tuition will be covered.

If there is a tuition balance remaining after the MSP TechHire award and any other resources have been applied, scholarship applicants must confirm they have the resources to pay the balance remaining. In addition, the MSP TechHire training programs are very demanding and time-consuming, therefore, students are not able to work and earn wages while in training. Scholarship applicants must confirm they have the financial resources for the duration of training.

Application

For information on how to apply for a 2024 scholarship, please contact Annie Byrne.