The White House on Tuesday designated Educate Maine’s Project>Login campaign as a “TechHire Community,” recognizing it and other projects from across the country as innovators in creating flexible pathways to successful computing and technology jobs.
At a “White House Demo Day,” innovators from around the country joined President Obama to share their success stories and show why every American should be given the opportunity to pursue their own bold ideas.
Project>Login is a nonpartisan public-private partnership charged with expanding the network of computing and IT professionals in Maine through engagement, education, and employment opportunities. Southern Maine Community College is a Project>Login partner, and Project>Login serves on the SMCC Advisory Board for Computer Technology and Information Security programs.
Educate Maine’s Program Director, Jay Collier, and Ken Grady, Chief Information Officer at IDEXX Laboratories, attended the event and received the designation on behalf of Project>Login’s extensive network of Maine employers, educators, and workforce colleagues.
The TechHire Initiative, launched by President Obama in March, is a multi-sector effort and call-to-action to empower Americans with the skills they need, through universities and community colleges as well as non-traditional approaches that offer efficient or flexible paths to technology training.
“SMCC has invested nearly $2 million to renovate our Computer Science & Engineering Center, buy the newest and best equipment, update our curriculum, and produce graduates with in-demand skills,” said SMCC President Ron Cantor. “We are investing in our students to ensure they are well-prepared for careers in the fast-changing world of information technology. All upgrades are proceeding in close consultation with the businesses and organizations that need trained IT workers.”