When eBizIT PA was founded in 2002, not a lot was known about the IT business. At that time, scientists and programmers had discovered that more information could be sent over a single cable in a second than was sent over the entire Internet in a month in 1997. Development professionals knew they were on the precipice of something huge but had no idea how to build on it.
Today, IT is one of the fastest growing fields in the U.S., expected to grow 17 percent in the next eight years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Pennsylvania, a renewed interest in health IT has spawned hundreds of new businesses. To continue the success IT businesses have had in Pennsylvania, Governor Rendell’s office announced this week that a series of grants totaling $27 million will be allocated amongst regional business incubators like Ben Franklin Technology Partners and Dream It Ventures, with the goal of improving the state’s high tech sector. But before IT entrepreneurs can get to the commercialization stage, they have to learn the ropes. This grant funding will help eBizIT continue its successful education programs in the more rural sections of the state.
“This grant will allow us to get resources directly into companies across the Commonwealth,” says eBizIT Executive Director Ron May. “Most of the money will be used for our Technology Apprentice Program which has roughly an 80-percent hire rate upon completion of the apprenticeship.”
May also said the grant will help fund the IT Kickstart program, an IT commercialization grant program that offers funding for consulting and business services. In a business like IT, where speed of information is key to success, it should come as no surprise that within a week of receiving the funding, eBizIT was once again accepting applications for Kickstart.
“Though the grant funding we provide is not a huge amount of money, the grants are often enough to give a small business owner or manager a needed push to make this type of critical workforce investment,” says May. “Since our inception, companies have reported hiring an additional 775 employees as a direct result of our programs. I would encourage your readers to visit ebizitpa.org to learn more about us.”
Source: Ron May, eBizIT PA
Writer: John Steele