Arlington Economic Development Unveils Workforce Development Program
June 1, 2022 | By Cara O'Donnell
Arlington Economic Development (AED) is proud to announce an innovative workforce development program benefitting Arlington residents and tech employers. AED is working with Arlington-based Exelaration, the #2 tech and engineering internship provider in the U.S., on the Arlington Talent Pilot program.
Arlington is home to both a highly educated workforce and many fast-growing tech companies. We know there are residents who may have the interest, but perhaps no formal tech background, said Marian Marquez, Arlington Economic Development's director of business investment. This program will support aspiring Arlingtonians in developing in-demand skills for a career in technology through a paid, experiential learning program.
The Arlington Talent Pilot program, which uses funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, will provide 10 Arlington residents the opportunity to gain valuable software development experience and a pathway into a technology career over the next 13 months. The program is designed to not only offer experience in the tech sector for interested individuals, but also provide local companies with an increased talent pool from the local community.
"Imagine a place where every employer has access to a renewable workforce. This is the promise of Arlington, and it is Exelaration's mission," said Steve Cooper, founder and CEO of Exelaration. "Employers want workers with hands-on experience, and that's exactly what the Arlington Talent Pilot Program does. Providing residents with mentoring and real-world experience is the fastest, most certain way to help the area's businesses, small and large, connect with the engineers they desperately need."
Exelaration is an innovative technology company specializing in paid experiential learning opportunities for aspiring software developers. Exelaration began in 2009 as part of Excella, an award-winning Arlington-based technology services company. In 2020, Exelaration spun off from Excella under NextUp Solutions, an Agile training firm, to independently expand their reach as technology education providers. Since its inception, Exelaration has provided more than 100 participants with real-world industry experience prior to graduation.
How to Apply
Those interested in learning more about applying for the Arlington Talent Pilot Program can do so directly through Exelaration's applicant portal. The application portal opens on June 1, and the first cohort begins on September 6, 2022. Interested companies and organizations can learn more about involvement through Exelaration's partnership page.
About Arlington Economic Development
Arlington Economic Development (AED), part of Arlington County Government, is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of an economically competitive and sustainable community, and the creation of exciting, diverse and amenity-rich places. AED provides visionary leadership and superior services to Arlington's business and arts community, its tourism industry and its real estate development. For more information, visit arlingtoneconomicdevelopment.com.