BOWLING GREEN Ky. — Kentucky is well-known for farming tobacco and producing champion thoroughbreds;
however, the commonwealth is growing a new kind of talent with its Commonwealth Coders web development training, an intensive 16-week training course that prepares participants for a career as a Junior Web Developer where knowledge of programming languages is used to code websites and web applications.A collaborative effort between the South Central, Cumberlands, Bluegrass, Northern Kentucky and TENCO Workforce Boards, this program provides tremendous and unique career opportunities, especially for Kentuckians in rural areas across the state who are interested in working remotely. The growing demand for web developers has led to the course’s continued growth.The training course will be completely virtual for students; however, it will be “live” as instruction and discussion will take place in real-time, just as it would for an in-person course. While no previous computer/coding experience is required, solid algebra skills along with a strong determination to succeed are both highly recommended for participants. Student selection is competitive; however, all potential students are highly encouraged to complete an initial no-obligation interest survey.The 16-week Commonwealth Coders training course will be offered at little to no cost to those who are eligible, including many individuals who have lost their job due to recent natural disasters. After a student completes the course, they will be ready to enter the workforce as a Junior Web Developer, a career that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is projected to grow 13 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.Laura Torres, Project Manager for Commonwealth Coders, said that this type of program is unique in that it helps promote tech jobs in rural areas of the state. Torres explains, “We want to skill up our communities and let people know that we grow talent in Kentucky. Kentuckians can truly excel in the tech world and we must build that culture from within.”
