$2.8M grant supports new Goodwill tech training program
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Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana a $2.8 million grant to help train more people in underserved populations to enter technology fields. The money will support Goodwill’s new collaboration with Per Scholas, a national organization that provides tuition-free technical training in high-growth careers.
Per Scholas will be a community partner with Goodwill and will operate in Goodwill’s headquarters in Indianapolis.
“Our Per Scholas approach is very intentional, as we aim to bridge the gap between a constantly growing tech sector and the next generation of tech workers,” said Theron Wilson, who was recently named Per Scholas Indianapolis managing director. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to team up with Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, to help improve access and opportunity, and I know we’ll accomplish great things together.”
The five-year grant will support Per Scholas’ expansion to Indianapolis, the national tech training nonprofit’s 20th city.
Per Scholas says 85% of its students are people of color and about one-third are women.
The nonprofit says its graduates are hired into tech roles by more than 850 employer partners nationwide, ranging from Fortune 500 to startups.
“Indianapolis is a growing tech hub in America’s heartland, and we’re looking forward to bringing our best-in-class technology skills training to the city,“ said Per Scholas CEO PIinio Ayala.
The first course Per Scholas Indianapolis will offer is IT Support beginning in March. Applications are due February 27.