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Local residents can access Flatiron School’s Income Share Agreements, which align tuition payments with post-program income

The Black River Innovation Campus (BRIC), the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) and Flatiron School, a global school that specializes in teaching tech skills such as Software Engineering, Data Science and UX/UI Design, today announced a collaboration aimed at helping residents of Springfield and the surrounding area learn new skills that open up digital economy employment opportunities. Instead of paying tuition up front, eligible students can access Flatiron School Income Share Agreements (ISAs), and make payments only after securing an annual income of at least $40,000 (calculated as monthly gross income of at least $3,333.34) upon leaving Flatiron School.

This program also offers local residents enrolled in Flatiron School free access to the new Black River Innovation Campus in Springfield, where they can work alongside other enrolled students and receive additional in-person tutoring and support. Flatiron School’s enrollment process is aptitude-based rather than resume-based, so it allows people with no prior technical skills to learn coding and data science skills.

“The partnership with Flatiron School is a perfect fit for the ecosystem we’re building at the Black River Innovation Campus. We are committed to fostering opportunities like this that will benefit local residents and help grow the skilled tech workforce that is in demand by regional and national employers,” said Trevor Barlow, Executive Director of the Black River Innovation Campus.

“Flatiron School is an industry leader in providing opportunities for students to learn the high-tech skills needed to obtain well-compensated digital economy jobs in coding, data science, and UX/UI design. Growing that talent pipeline and matching talent to employment is a vital part of digital ecosystem development. This is an exciting example of the potential for the Upper Valley as we collaborate to leverage Springfield’s gigabit speed fiber internet access,” said Matt Dunne, Founder and Executive Director of the Center on Rural Innovation.

CORI and Flatiron School will provide robust job-placement services to graduates, with an emphasis on placing as many participants as possible in well-compensated local tech jobs. Flatiron School has demonstrated strong results in placing graduates in tech jobs at leading companies. According to Flatiron School’s most recent Jobs Report for graduates from its online Software Engineering immersive program, 94 percent of job-seeking students accepted full-time salaried roles, paid apprenticeships, and part-time roles; the average starting salary for full-time salaried roles was $66,774. In Vermont, the average starting salary for a computer programmer is $60,000.

Rebekah Rombom, Flatiron School’s General Manager of Online Programs, said, “ISAs align tuition payments with job outcomes, allowing students to focus on learning – not making payments.” Through the power and flexibility of our online program, we can help greater Springfield region residents access in-demand tech skills in software engineering and data science, and build sustainable careers, while providing much-needed technical talent for Vermont employers.”

This program is attracting the attention of successful employers in the region who are continuously in need of talented technical staff. Local employers, including the high-end glass and home goods purveyor Simon Pearce in Windsor, software design and development firm Green River in Brattleboro, and news database resource company NewsBank in Chester have committed to partner with the initiative to engage with students and grads. Given the local demand for skilled technical staff, students will have the opportunity to apply for paid local internships during the course, and many local employment opportunities await them after they graduate.

Applications are now being accepted on a rolling basis for Flatiron School’s online software engineering, data science and UX/UI design courses. The next session begins on July 15, with subsequent classes starting in early August and early September. Coursework can be taken on a part- or full-time basis. Individuals interested in learning more about the program should visit https://bricvt.org/learn-to-code and fill out the form for more information.

About the Black River Innovation Campus

The Black River Innovation Campus in Springfield, Vermont leverages 10 gigabit internet access, inexpensive local real estate, and the availability of skilled talent to create a live/work/learn hub for digital economy employment and entrepreneurship.

About Flatiron School

Flatiron School is a global school that trains students in 21st century skills such as software engineering, data science, and UX/UI design. Flatiron School’s on-campus and online courses have a proven track record of impressive job placement results, and include dedicated career coaching, job placement support, and a money-back guarantee (see details). Acquired by WeWork in 2017, Flatiron School’s mission is to empower people to change things — their careers, lives, and the world. Since its founding in 2012, Flatiron School has graduated thousands of students.

About the Center on Rural Innovation

CORI is a Hartland, Vermont-based nonprofit action tank working to rebuild rural America using progressive public, private, and philanthropic partnerships and data-driven strategies to help small towns achieve sustainable economic success. Learn more at www.ruralinnovation.us.