Per Scholas will open classrooms at 540 Broad St. in the former New Jersey Bell Building in Newark.-(AARON HOUSTON)

National tech training non-profit Per Scholas is coming to Newark to train and place more than 200 graduates in tech jobs over the next three years, two-thirds of whom will be Newark residents.

Per Scholas is working with Newark employers and a regional employer network to cultivate direct job opportunities for graduates seeking technology careers. Per Scholas Newark is supported by founding partner Barclays, signature founding partner Prudential Financial and major founding partner the PSEG Foundation.

Prudential has been headquartered in Newark for more than 140 years, and will provide both resources and expertise to link the new training opportunities with community and employer networks in the city.

The PSEG Foundation has been headquartered in Newark for 114 years and supports and invests in sustainable neighborhoods, STEM education, and safety.

Newark is experiencing an explosion of technology companies choosing to locate here … One of our highest priorities is to ensure that Newark residents benefit from the city’s accelerating development, investment and job growth. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka

Per Scholas will open classrooms at 540 Broad St. in the former New Jersey Bell Building and feature three state-of-the-art technical classrooms, with 20 workstations each, along with a workspace and a kitchen. Per Scholas plans to enroll about 100 students per year and the training will be free to students. Courses will last for three to four months and will include a comprehensive admissions process, technical instruction, career coaching and two years of alumni follow-up and placement support.

“Newark is experiencing an explosion of technology companies choosing to locate here,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement. “One of our highest priorities is to ensure that Newark residents benefit from the city’s accelerating development, investment and job growth. The decision by Per Scholas to come to Newark is both a confirmation of Newark’s technology leadership and a boost to our goal of preparing residents for well-paying tech jobs.”

Newark residents may apply for the training at www.perscholas.org/newark. Applications are now open for the first IT Support class that will begin in January, and admissions will be conducted on a rolling basis for future classes through the year.