A Denver-based technology education company that trains workers in software development and data science is expanding to the downtown Phoenix Warehouse District to help address the technology talent gap.
The Phoenix campus of Galvanize, planned to open in late 2016, will be in the same renovated, historic building as software firm WebPT at 515 E. Grant St.
PROVIDED BY GALVANIZE
Galvanize also will offer co-working space for dozens of startups and established companies who want access to the talent Galvanize creates.
“One of the biggest technology needs is for coders, and it’s a career that requires skill, but not necessarily a college degree,” said Galvanize CEO Jim Deters, in an exclusive interview with the Phoenix Business Journal. “We have a program that works with people who have the right skills to learn to code. We focus on people who are motivated, have a high school education or are out of work.”
As part of the Phoenix move, Galvanize is partnering with Allstate, the Northbrook, Illinois-based insurance company, to provide agile software development training to more than 100 Phoenix-area employees next year. Allstate has already committed to hire up to 150 eligible graduates of Galvanize’s program.
It’s been a two-year process to get Galvanize to commit to open in Phoenix through work with WebPT, Phoenix city leaders and the Industrial Development Authority, an independent city agency that has bonding authority to help fund development projects with benefits to the city.
Deters said his company looks to place its schools in cities where there is a strong ecosystem for startups and entrepreneurs. That’s why Galvanize chose downtown Phoenix.
“Almost all of our facilities are located in downtowns,” Deters said. “Picking the site in the historic district fits well with the culture and the Phoenix ecosystem. There are a lot of technology companies clustering downtown. We want to be there with them.”
Over the next 10 years, Arizona is projected to be No. 2 in computer science and IT jobs and No. 4 for overall STEM jobs, according to Change the Equation, a non-partisan, CEO-led Washington group that works to improve science, technology, engineering and math learning in the U.S.
However, according to their data, Arizona is ranked No. 48 in preparation for these STEM careers. To help bridge the gap, Arizona professional teacher organizations are collaborating for a first-of-its-kind, national conference in January on all things STEM.
Deters was persuaded to come to Phoenix by Brad Jannenga, co-founder and board member of WebPT, the fast-growing Phoenix-based physical therapy electronic medical records company, and Phoenix City Councilwoman Kate Gallego and Vice Mayor Daniel Valenzuela.
“Since Galvanize is very intentional where they pick their locations, I think it really shows that the Warehouse District is attracting that creative talent and tech jobs that forward-thinking companies want to move to,” Gallego said today. “They love that our Warehouse District has wonderful history, creative spaces and great proximity to our downtown.”
“Of the country’s 10 largest cities, Phoenix will stand alone as the only one to boast a Galvanize campus,” Valenzuela said in a statement. “This is the latest sign that our entrepreneurial and tech talent development ecosystem is establishing Phoenix on the national stage as the most generous and welcoming community for entrepreneurs and innovators. We now have a proven educator in the tech and innovation market coming to Phoenix and one more symbol of our strengthening startup ecosystem.”
Deters said that some of the biggest demand for coders is coming from the advanced business services sector.
“People don’t think about financial institutions as technology companies, but banks and insurance companies are hiring our coders as soon as students finish the 12-week program,” Deters said.
Chris Camacho, president and CEO of GPEC, said that Phoenix is seeing a lot of interest from the tech industry, which is creating a buzz nationally for the market.
“Having locally grown tech companies such as WebPT elevates the market’s notoriety across the U.S.,” Camacho said in a statement. “Job growth in the software industry in greater Phoenix is outpacing the national average, and we are going to continue to see that growth as more and more companies consider the market for expansion.”
There are no state incentives offered for this deal.
For more information about applying for a course or membership at Galvanize’s Phoenix campus, click here.
Hayley Ringle covers technology and startups for the Phoenix Business Journal.
