Project Grant MI389792260A54

AWARD PURPOSE THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT OPPORTUNITY IS TO CREATE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, ADDRESS HISTORIC INEQUITIES FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND OTHER UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES, AND PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY EMPLOYMENT FOR WORKERS WHO RESIDE IN THE APPALACHIAN AND DELTA REGIONS, ENABLING THEM TO REMAIN AND THRIVE IN THESE COMMUNITIES. ACTIVITIES PERFORMED THIS PROJECT WILL EXPAND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT JOB TRAINING PROGRAM, PLACE UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED WEST VIRGINIANS IN HIGH-QUALITY TECHNOLOGY JOBS AND OFFER NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO FORMER GRADUATES WHO SEEK TO "LEVEL UP" IN THEIR CAREERS. THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL, TUITION-FREE NEWFORCE JOB TRAINING PROGRAM WILL ADVANCE GWV'S WORK TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND ADDRESS THE GENERATIONAL IMPACTS OF COAL DECLINE IN WEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITIES. THE PRIMARY COMPONENTS OF THE LEVEL UP PROJECT INCLUDE: (1) ESTABLISHING STIPENDS AND CONDUCTING TARGETED RECRUITMENT TO ENHANCE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE SIX-MONTH PROGRAM WITH A FOCUS ON PARTICIPATION FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN TECHNOLOGY, (2) LAUNCHING A NEW LEVEL UP ALUMNI ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM TO ENSURE ECONOMIC MOBILITY WITHIN TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES, AND (3) CONDUCTING A SUSTAINABILITY STUDY TO ESTABLISH NEW REVENUE STREAMS TO SUSTAIN NEWFORCE'S IMPACT ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. DELIVERABLES 120 TRAINEES WILL ENROLL IN THE NEWFORCE JOB TRAINING PROGRAM DURING THE GRANT PERIOD; AT LEAST 103 GRADUATES WILL OBTAIN NEW EMPLOYMENT WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF GRADUATING NEWFORCE. IN ADDITION, 80 TOTAL JUNIOR DEVELOPERS WILL ENROLL IN THE LEVEL UP PERSONALIZED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; AT LEAST 40 PARTICIPANTS WILL OBTAIN A SALARY INCREASE OF 33% WITHIN THE GRANT PERIOD. IN TOTAL, 200 PARTICIPANTS WILL SECURE EMPLOYMENT AND/OR A RAISE AS A RESULT OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT. INTENDED BENEFICIARY INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THE NEWFORCE: LEVEL UP EQUITY AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE PROJECT INCLUDE UNEMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED WEST VIRGINIANS, WITH A FOCUS ON UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN TECH. UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN TECH ARE GENERALLY DEFINED AS WOMEN/GENDER EXPANSIVE ADULTS, BLACK PEOPLE, LATINX PEOPLE, INDIGENOUS AMERICANS, NATIVE HAWAIIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDERS, LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, AND LOW-INCOME PEOPLE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.