OLCDC Now Accepting Applications for Two Tech Futures CoursesOPA-LOCKA, Fla.—The Opa-locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC) is offering two free 12-week training courses through its Tech Futures program to prepare low-income residents in Miami-Dade County for jobs in the growing IT industry. The CompTIA A+ course, which offers basic IT skills, begins August 2, and the Web Development Fundamentals course begins August 9. Classes for both courses will be held virtually Monday through Thursday, 6:30-9 p.m.The CompTIA A+ course teaches basic IT skills, including installing operating systems, configuring hardware and software, establishing networks, troubleshooting, and more. Program graduates will be prepared to pass their CompTIA A+ certification exam, required for many entry-level positions in the IT industry. While the CompTIA A+ course was previously offered in 2019, OLCDC is offering the Web Development Fundamentals course for the first time. The Web Development course prepares program graduates to pass their CIW Site Development Associate certification exam and teaches them skills such as HTML5 and CSS coding, using graphical user interface (GUI) tools, search engine optimization, eCommerce projects, and more. “We’re growing the Tech Futures Initiative to reflect more of the career paths that are available in the IT industry,” said OLCDC Chief Operating Officer Nikisha Williams. “While free foundational tech courses make careers in tech more accessible for low-income residents, a more specialized course in web development is a great next step for those who want to build on the skills they already have and take their career to the next level.”The Tech Futures Initiative is part of OLCDC’s workforce innovation strategy, designed to create more ways for low-income residents to connect to educational resources, career pathways, and support systems to improve their economic mobility and ensure their long-term success. IT is a growing industry in South Florida, offering a variety of entry-level jobs that pay a living wage and career paths leading to higher incomes. According to a 2016 survey of IT professionals, the average salary for someone with the CIW Site Development Associate certification was $65,556. Data from 2021 puts the average salary for someone with a CompTIA A+ certification at $53,218 in Miami.Tech Futures offers technical instruction along with soft skills training, teaching students communication, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, customer services and even financial wellness. After completing a course, program graduates are connected to CareerSource South Florida for help finding and securing employment based on their new skills. Tech Futures is funded in part by Microsoft Corp., which awarded OLCDC a multi- year unrestricted grant to support professional skills development programs earlier this year. OLCDC also received a grant from TD Bank to expand the program to support mid-career adults seeking opportunities to learn new skills. The Florida Education Fund is also a key partner, providing instructional training for both courses.Classes for the CompTIA A+ course will run August 2 through October 21. The Web Development course begins one week later, running August 9 through October 28. The program is open to Miami-Dade County residents over the age of 18, with either a high school diploma or GED. Applicants must also be able to commit to the full 12- week course and have reliable access to a computer and internet throughout the program. For more information about the Tech Futures Initiative, or apply for one of the courses, visit the OLCDC website at http://olcdc.org/techfutures. Specific questions and requests for more information may be submitted by email at financialempowerment@olcdc.org. About The Opa-locka Community Development Corporation The Opa-locka Community Development Corporation (OLCDC) was established in 1980 as a nonprofit community development corporation in order to address the distressed unemployment conditions, particularly in the Opa-locka and North Dade County, Florida, communities. Its mission is to build a strong ecosystem that supports under-resourced communities in creating an equitable and sustainable economy. For more information about OLCDC, please visit www.olcdc.org .
