CodeRGV, a 501(c)(3) Educational non-profit located in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas is partnering with the Mission EDC and Workforce Solutions to help change the way workforce development is done by Building Better Nerds to support high-demand jobs in the State of Texas.

CodeRGV is kicking off a series of boot camps for the community and funded by a partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission’s High-Demand Job Training Program and the Mission Economic Development Corporation. These 8–12 hour per day bootcamps help change the lives of 40 individuals per year, giving them the ability to obtain jobs whose median salaries can be in the $100,000s of dollars per year.

These courses are being offered in partnership with he leader in technical training throughout the world, CompTIA. The CompTIA series of technical certifications are standard in the industry for proficiency and applicability in Information Technology. For the first time, a non-profit will provide training across the entire suite of CompTIA certifications, from start to finish, to 40 selected applicants. Once graduated, these 40 fresh faces will be able to show their proficiency as a CyberSecurity Analyst; a high-demand job that is will see 1.5 million available positions globally over the next 2 years in a $6 trillion industry.

Workforce Solutions, the local workforce development board, the Texas Workforce Commission, Mission EDC, CompTIA, the world’s largest IT association and CodeRGV, a local non-profit organization specializing in tech skills development, together recognize the need to continue to provide the availability of IT related bootcamps to residents in the Rio Grande Valley.

“This bootcamp is focused on filling a need in professional certification of IT workers in cybersecurity. The demand for certified workers encompasses all industries in IT departments and companies that provide IT services to businesses both large and small,” said Alex Meade, Mission EDC CEO.

This program will provide a total of 40 participants (who meet Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) basic eligibility requirements) with a rigorous 8-week cybersecurity bootcamp utilizing a new partnership with CompTIA.

“These programs offered by TWC provide local workforce boards with an opportunity to partner with organizations and foster programs that will provide our local workforce with in-demand skills training that lead to high paying sustainable careers,” said Francisco Almaraz, Workforce Solutions CEO.

Providing a Path to Certification

Participants will complete a series of CompTIA vendor-neutral skills certifications for technology professionals that are widely sought after and recognized by companies all over the United States and the world. WFS in collaboration with Mission EDC and CodeRGV will provide recruitment, pre-screening, job readiness training and job placement services to participants for this intensive program. In addition, participants will receive the CompTIA series of professional certifications that includes A+, Network+, Security+, and Cybersecurity Analyst+ certifications at graduation.

“Cybersecurity threats are growing both in numbers and in the risks they pose to organizations,” said Mark Plunkett, senior director of business development, CompTIA. “To counter these threats we need to develop a technology workforce that is educated, trained and certified in the latest cybersecurity countermeasures. This initiative is on point for achieving this objective. CompTIA is pleased to be a part of this effort.”

The cybersecurity bootcamps will be conducted at the Center for Education and Economic Development (CEED), a collaborative workspace located in the City of Mission. Classroom training will be provided by a CodeRGV, CompTIA certified instructor.

“These programs offered by TWC provide local workforce boards with an opportunity to partner with organizations and foster programs that will provide our local workforce with in-demand skills training that lead to high paying sustainable careers,” said Francisco Almaraz, Workforce Solutions CEO.

Building A Foundation for the Future

‘This model will help build capacity in South Texas so that future cybersecurity certification boot camps such as this one may continue. Our mission to Build Better Nerds continues by educating developers and skilled professionals while cultivating a technology friendly atmosphere in South Texas. Through this partnership we will continue to innovate and build a better workforce for Texas and the world” said Drew Lentz, CodeRGV President.

Creating High-Paying Jobs for a Local Skilled Workforce

Properly trained IT security staff that can analyze, monitor, and protect cybersecurity resources are in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that information security analysts will be the fastest growing overall job category, with 37 percent overall growth between 2012 and 2022. A career in information security analysis ranked seventh on U.S. News and World Report’s list of the 100 best technology jobs for 2017. According to the BLS, the median pay for an information security analyst is $90,120 per year.

“This collaboration will provide high-tech customized training for high-demand cybersecurity careers while increasing business’ competitiveness in the global market,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez.

Employers across Texas and the United States are seeking thousands of core technology workers in cybersecurity and other skills to fill current and future staffing needs. In 2016 tech industry employment in Texas grew by more than 11,000 jobs, according to CompTIA’s Cyberstates 2017 report. Even with this new hiring, employers posted job openings for more than 42,600 tech occupations in Q4 2016.

For more information contact CodeRGV at info@codergv.org