Greater Grand Rapids Tech Strategy
VIEW REPORT
VISION
Our vision is for Greater Grand Rapids to become a major tech hub in the Midwest, growing the tech sector to 10% of regional employment. This vision calls for 20K new tech jobs over the next 10 years.
OUR GOAL
OUR STRATEGY
NEW JOBS IN TECH SECTOR 20,000 TEN
1
2
3
Talent
Ecosystem
Growth
YEAR GOAL
- Launch Events L - Support Entrepreneurs L - Grow Incubators & Accelerators L - Increase Density L - Expand Broadband L
- Develop New Talent L - Reskilling Talent L - Educating Talent L - Attracting Talent L
- Digital Transformation L - Connecting Businesses & Tech L - Attract & Grow Existing Tech L - Market Tech Hub L
10%
OF REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Shaping Our Future
Establishing Tech Hubs
Creating Our Strategy
Roadmap For Success
The Process
Overview
The following report is a roadmap for accelerating Greater Grand Rapid’s position as a tech hub. It’s the product of more than six months of intensive research and strategic planning on the part of The Right Place, business and community leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, and numerous other stakeholders across the region.
We’ve Segmented Our Strategy and Recommendations into Three Categories:
Talent
Ecosystem
Growth
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Overview
Establishing Tech Hubs
Creating Our Strategy
Roadmap For Success
The Process
Shaping Our Future
Tech Industry Growth 2007 to 2021
There’s no denying technology is the future. Our businesses are driven by it. The future of Greater Grand Rapids depends on it. The next decade will spur more technological progress than experienced over the past century. 1 Future jobs will mirror that trend, with the growth in tech-related fields projected to grow at twice the rate of other occupations nationally over the coming decade. 2 Currently, job postings for positions in emerging tech fields increased 209% between 2015 and 2021, while high-tech software and service firms grew at a rate far surpassing other sectors in the years following the Great Recession. 3,4
180%
170%
160%
150%
140%
130%
120%
110%
100%
90%
80%
70%
60% 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
High-Tech Software/Services
Life Sciences (non-MFG)
Design Services
(Excluding high-tech)
High-Tech Manufacturers
Telecom
Media-Entertainment
1 McKinsey & Company Tech Trends 2 CompTIA CyberStates 2022 3 CompTIA CyberStates 2022
Graph Source: CBRE. Tech 30 2021
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Overview
Shaping Our Future
Creating Our Strategy
Roadmap For Success
The Process
Establishing Tech Hubs
Tech Wages Compared to National Averages
Tech hubs, or communities where tech is a leading industry, have become the modern engines for economic growth , spurring advancement and prosperity for the surrounding region. These thriving communities drive higher economic output, retain and attract greater numbers of highly educated individuals, and provide increased wages. The result is a robust region where people have many opportunities to pursue an improved quality of life.
National Wage Percentiles
Tech Wage Percentiles
$175K
$150K
$125K
125% Higher
$100K
$75K
$50K
$25K
$0K
25th Percentile
90th Percentile
10th Percentile
50th Percentile
75th Percentile
Graph Source: CompTIA CyberStates 2022
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Overview
Shaping Our Future
Establishing Tech Hubs
Roadmap For Success
The Process
Creating Our Strategy
Regional Employer Survey
To ensure Greater Grand Rapids remains a vibrant community and center for economic growth, we must execute this strategy for establishing a tech hub. Developing a tech hub is an economic imperative that Greater Grand Rapids must pursue to ensure we can provide our businesses and people with the resources, tools, and environment to thrive in a future increasingly dominated by technology.
72%
78%
of companies identified technology as “highly important” to their strategy in the coming years.
of companies plan to increase their tech hiring needs in the next five years.
2021 Regional Employer Tech Survey, The Right Place
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Overview
Shaping Our Future
Establishing Tech Hubs
Roadmap For Success
The Process
Creating Our Strategy
Regional Employer Survey
To ensure Greater Grand Rapids remains a vibrant community and center for economic growth, we must execute this strategy for establishing a tech hub. Developing a tech hub is an economic imperative that Greater Grand Rapids must pursue to ensure we can provide our businesses and people with the resources, tools, and environment to thrive in a future increasingly dominated by technology. TERMINOLOGY
of companies identified technology as “highly important” to their strategy in the coming years. recommendations will rely on the Greater Grand Rapids community, which was instrumental in developing this strategy. We encourage you to find your place and passion here and assist us on our region’s journey. 78% The terms “we” and “our” are used frequently throughout this report and refer to our community interaction. The Right Place owns direct responsibility for portions of this plan, while execution of other 72% of companies plan to increase their tech hiring needs in the next five years.
2021 Regional Employer Tech Survey, The Right Place
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Overview
Shaping Our Future
Establishing Tech Hubs
Roadmap For Success
The Process
Creating Our Strategy
The primary objective of our strategy is to add 20,000 new tech jobs in Greater Grand Rapids over the next decade to reach 10% of the regional workforce.
Approximately 33,500 people currently work in Greater Grand Rapids’ tech sector, comprising 6.1% of our region’s total labor force. 1 To compete with other major metropolitan areas for talent, businesses, and innovation, creating a tech hub is essential for Greater Grand Rapids.
1 The “tech sector” comprises a combination of tech industries and tech-related occupations, as defined by CompTIA.
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Overview
Shaping Our Future
Establishing Tech Hubs
Roadmap For Success
The Process
Creating Our Strategy
Communities across the country are aggressively pursuing strategies to position themselves as centers for technological innovation, capitalizing on the economic opportunity the tech sector offers. Once confined primarily to the coasts, we’ve witnessed the meteoric rise of emerging tech hubs including Austin, Denver, and Salt Lake City. These communities show higher and more consistent growth trajectories in tech jobs, with heavier concentrations of their workforces employed in tech compared to Greater Grand Rapids.
Tech Workforce Statistics:
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Tech Employment & Growth
Percentage of Tech Workforce 2020
Percentage of Tech Workforce by Job Type
Image Source: CMSWire
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Tech Employment & Growth
Overview Percentage of Tech Workforce by Job Type
Shaping Our Future
Establishing Tech Hubs
Roadmap For Success
The Process
Percentage of Tech Workforce 2020
Creating Our Strategy
Tech Employment in Top Cities Compared to Greater Grand Rapids
Communities across the country are aggressively pursuing strategies to position themselves as centers for technological innovation, capitalizing on the economic opportunity the tech sector offers. Once confined primarily to the coasts, we’ve witnessed the meteoric rise of emerging tech hubs including Austin, Denver, and Salt Lake City. These communities show higher and more consistent growth trajectories in tech jobs, with heavier concentrations of their workforces employed in tech compared to Greater Grand Rapids. 28.8% Growth 2020 2021 2022 29.9% Growth
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
250K
24.4% Growth
200K
150K
100K
28% Growth
6.7% Growth
50K
Tech Workforce Statistics:
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Tech Employment & Growth
Percentage of Tech Workforce 2020
Percentage of Tech Workforce by Job Type
Grand Rapids
Denver
Nashville
Salt Lake City
Austin
Image Source: CMSWire
Note: 2022 numbers represent an estimate generated by CompTIA and EMSI Burning Glass. Source: The “tech sector” comprises a combination of tech industries and tech-related occupations, as defined by CompTIA.
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Tech Employment & Growth
Overview Percentage of Tech Workforce by Job Type
Shaping Our Future
Establishing Tech Hubs
Roadmap For Success
The Process
Percentage of Tech Workforce 2020
Creating Our Strategy
Communities across the country are aggressively pursuing strategies to position themselves as centers for technological innovation, capitalizing on the economic opportunity the tech sector offers. Once confined primarily to the coasts, we’ve witnessed the meteoric rise of emerging tech hubs including Austin, Denver, and Salt Lake City. These communities show higher and more consistent growth trajectories in tech jobs, with heavier concentrations of their workforces employed in tech compared to Greater Grand Rapids.
Percentage of Tech Workforce 2020
6.1%
Grand Rapids
12.3%
Denver
6.4%
Nashville
12.6%
Salt Lake City
Tech Workforce Statistics:
14.4%
Austin
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Tech Employment & Growth
Percentage of Tech Workforce 2020
Percentage of Tech Workforce by Job Type
Image Source: CMSWire
Source: Data derived from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statists, EMSI-Burning Glass, and CompTIA
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Tech Employment & Growth
Overview Percentage of Tech Workforce by Job Type
Shaping Our Future
Establishing Tech Hubs
Roadmap For Success
The Process
Percentage of Tech Workforce 2020
Creating Our Strategy
Communities across the country are aggressively pursuing strategies to position themselves as centers for technological innovation, capitalizing on the economic opportunity the tech sector offers. Once confined primarily to the coasts, we’ve witnessed the meteoric rise of emerging tech hubs including Austin, Denver, and Salt Lake City. These communities show higher and more consistent growth trajectories in tech jobs, with heavier concentrations of their workforces employed in tech compared to Greater Grand Rapids.
Percentage of Tech Workforce by Job Type
Tech Workforce Statistics:
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Plus-Circle
Tech Employment & Growth
Percentage of Tech Workforce 2020
Percentage of Tech Workforce by Job Type
Image Source: CMSWire
Source: 2021 Data from CompTIA and EMSI Burning Glass
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Overview
Shaping Our Future
Establishing Tech Hubs
Creating Our Strategy
The Process
Roadmap For Success
Greater Grand Rapids is no stranger to transformation and innovation. We’ve grown our region into one of the most diverse and prolific centers of design, engineering, and manufacturing in the country. In the 1990s, business leaders saw the need to further diversify the economy. We leaned on our region’s strong public-private partnerships and created the Medical Mile, which has resulted in a health sciences sector that touches all corners of the region. Today, our community leaders have recognized the need for further economic transformation, setting our sights on the rapidly growing technology sector.
Image Source: Wikipedia
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Overview
Shaping Our Future
Establishing Tech Hubs
Creating Our Strategy
The Process
Roadmap For Success
Together, we can shape our region into the community of the future in our own way—the West Michigan way. This strategic plan is the product of a truly collaborative effort including more than 200 people from businesses large and small, educators at all levels of the continuum, and community leaders across the region. The recommendations in this report require ownership and dedication from every one of us. Our community must lean into the public-private partnership model that has served us so well in the past and fully invest in this strategy.
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Overview
Shaping Our Future
Establishing Tech Hubs
Creating Our Strategy
Roadmap For Success
The Process
We formed a task force of more than 100 businesses, community leaders, educators, and other stakeholders from across the region. Together, we created subcommittees to focus on the three main pillars of this strategy: Talent, Innovation Ecosystem, and Business Growth. These subcommittees met three times over the course of the process to shape the content of this report. Our efforts have already proven effective, with stakeholders and organizations implementing the recommendations produced as part of this process.
Below is a list of our accomplishments to date.
Case Studies 4
Survey Responses 109
Subcommittee Meeting Participants 275
Kickoff Meeting Attendants 100 +
Expert One-on- One Interviews 30 +
THE WHY
TALENT
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
RESOURCES
Overview
Shaping Our Future
Establishing Tech Hubs
Creating Our Strategy
Roadmap For Success
The Process
The following pages outline a series of goals and objectives designed to propel the Greater Grand Rapids economy to the next level. As you review this strategy, find your place to step in and support the next wave of West Michigan’s economic growth.
With leadership from The Right Place and countless regional partners, we will begin in earnest to move the needle. We will be publishing an annual technology sector report, tracking our progress, highlighting successes, analyzing shortcomings, and adjusting our strategy to stay in step with the rapidly changing sector. Further, a “Phase 2” tech strategy assessment will be conducted by a nationally recognized research and strategy firm to help accelerate our strategy, pushing us further, faster.
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
TALENT OBJECTIVE 1
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Building Diversity Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Overview
Increasing our tech talent pipeline is fundamental to the successful execution of the overall tech strategy.
OBJECTIVES:
Developing Talent Ensuring all students have foundational tech skills and are exposed to technology and tech careers throughout their education.
Educating Talent Providing our college students with high-tech degree programs and internships to increase the number of tech graduates in Greater Grand Rapids.
Reskilling Talent Providing our region’s workforce with the training and reskilling opportunities to stay ahead of the curve.
Attracting Talent Ensure organizations and companies across Greater Grand Rapids are making targeted efforts to attract these talented individuals to our region.
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Building Diversity Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Overview
Researchers estimate the global shortage of tech talent will reach 4.3 million people by 2030. 1 Sophisticated tech workers comprise some of the most sought-after talent in the world today. Demand for these workers has created a global shortage of tech talent and the demand is projected to grow exponentially as companies undergo rapid digital transformation in coming years. 2
1 Korn Ferry. “Future of Work: The Global Talent Crunch” 2 KPMG. “Winning the War for Tech Talent”
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Building Diversity Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Overview
Demand for tech talent in Greater Grand Rapids is forecasted to grow across industry sectors.
Top Four Emerging Technologies in West Michigan:
Cybersecurity
Artificial Intelligence
Cloud-Based Computing Machine Learning
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Building Diversity Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Overview
Greater Grand Rapids must educate, reskill and attract 20,000 tech workers in the next 10 years .
Attract 2,000
Reskill 6,000
To meet the rising demand for tech talent and position Greater Grand Rapids as the leading tech hub in the Midwest, our region must increase the concentration of its tech workforce to 10% of the overall labor pool in the next decade.
Educate 12,000
20,000 People
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Building Diversity Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Overview
To reach our goal of adding 20,000 tech jobs in Greater Grand Rapids, we must launch a multi-pronged strategy beginning by increasing exposure to tech skills and careers throughout the K-12 system.
Researchers predict the workforce of the future will interface with tech more than ever. The vast majority of emerging career fields—from data analytics to artificial intelligence—will require a level of technical sophistication. We must prepare the upcoming generations to excel in this new reality.
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The Future of Jobs
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Building Diversity Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Overview
The Future of Jobs
To reach our goal of adding 20,000 tech jobs in Greater Grand Rapids, we must launch a multi-pronged strategy beginning by increasing exposure to tech skills and careers throughout the K-12 system. Increasing Demand
Increasing Demand
• Data Analysts and Scientists
• Internet of Things Specialists
• AI and Machine Learning Specialists
• Project Managers, Business Services, and Administration Managers
• Big Data Specialists
• Database and Network Professionals
• Digital Marketing and Strategy Specialists
Researchers predict the workforce of the future will interface with tech more than ever. The vast majority of emerging career fields—from data analytics to artificial intelligence—will require a level of technical sophistication. We must prepare the upcoming generations to excel in this new reality.
• Robotic and Strategic Advisors
• Process Automation Specialists
• FinTech Engineers Management and Organization Analysts • Mechanics and Machinery Repairers • Organizational Development Specialists
• Business Development Professionals
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The Future of Jobs
• Digital Transformation Specialists
• Information Security Analysts
• Risk Management Specialists
• Software and Applications Developers
Source: Future of Jobs Survey 2020, World Economic Forum.
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Building Diversity Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Overview
The changing nature of work will drive substantial retraining and upskilling demand in Greater Grand Rapids.
50%
75%
The estimated number of workers who will require retraining as companies adopt new technologies. 1
Of 23,000 respondents to a SalesForce survey said they did not feel ready to operate in a “digital-first” world. 2
1 World Economic Forum. “Future of Jobs 2020” 2 SalesForce. “Digital Skills Index Update.” 2022
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Building Diversity Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Overview
Our region must provide the training and resources necessary for people to change paths or upskill to pursue a meaningful and impactful career in tech.
Doing so will require a combination of employer-led training, certificates, and two-year and four-year degree programs alike. Work must also be done to retain our graduates by providing opportunities to engage in meaningful work with local employers.
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Building Diversity
Greater Grand Rapids can design our tech sector with intentionality by amplifying existing programs and developing new ones that engage our diverse students and incumbent workers. Tech is notorious for its lack of diversity, with Black and Hispanic workers engaging with the tech sector at half the rate they participate in the broader economy. Further, women make up only 33% of the tech workforce, compared to 46% of the total workforce. At our nascent stage of tech development, Greater Grand Rapids has an opportunity to build a passion for tech among diverse populations. 1
US Workforce by Race/Ethnicity & Sex for Selected Industries
Tech Industry Workforce (All Occupations, Tech & Non-Tech)
33% Female
61.1%
21.1%
8.5% 6.4% 2.9%
51% Female
64.7%
9.0% 13.7%1
0.0%
2.6%
Total Workforce (All Industries and Occupations)
46% Female
56.5%
7.3% 20.8%
12.7%2
.7%
White
Asian
Hispanic
Black
Other
Graph Source: CBRE “Scoring Tech Talent in North America 2021”
1 EMSI Burning Glass and CompTIA 2021 data based on demographics of tech occupations
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Developing Talent
By using technology to inspire students from an early age, we can create the next generation of technologists right here in Greater Grand Rapids.
To boost our tech talent pipeline, we must lean on our business community to assist educators and other stakeholders in inspiring our students through curriculum, extracurricular activities, and career exploration opportunities.
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Computational Thinking
East Kentwood Esports
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Computational Thinking
Overview
Building Diversity
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
East Kentwood Esports
Developing Talent
Computational Thinking for Education (CT4EDU) at MSU
By using technology to inspire students from an early age, we can create the next generation of technologists right here in Greater Grand Rapids.
The CT4EDU program develops teacher competencies and co-develops lesson plans with elementary school teachers and administrators (Grades 2 to 5) to equitably integrate computational thinking—the foundational skills for computer science—into curriculum. The program offers teachers professional learning, classroom activities, lesson screeners, toolkits, and posters to provide opportunities for young children to learn and explore computational thinking. Research shows that the CT4EDU program has helped boost students’ metacognition, problem-solving, and learning management skills, while improving math learning outcomes. The program is currently being deployed in Kentwood and Oakwood public schools.Watch this video to learn about this work.
To boost our tech talent pipeline, we must lean on our business community to assist educators and other stakeholders in inspiring our students through curriculum, extracurricular activities, and career exploration opportunities.
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Computational Thinking
East Kentwood Esports
Image Source: CT4EDU
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Computational Thinking
Overview
Building Diversity
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
East Kentwood Esports
Developing Talent
East Kentwood Esports
By using technology to inspire students from an early age, we can create the next generation of technologists right here in Greater Grand Rapids.
East Kentwood High School launched an Esports program in 2017 to join the then nascent sport. Since that time, the program has grown to 82 participants, spread across ten separate teams, and encompassing six gaming titles . East Kentwood’s Esports team practices in a dedicated lab with eight HD TVs for competitive console gaming and 20 gaming PCs. The program was founded to provide students who were not traditional athletes or involved in band or theater the opportunity to participate in a team environment. East Kentwood administrators say the program also helps provide students access to collegiate-level
To boost our tech talent pipeline, we must lean on our business community to assist educators and other stakeholders in inspiring our students through curriculum, extracurricular activities, and career exploration opportunities.
scholarships to play Esports. Additionally, their students are leveraging the program to pursue careers in technology.
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Computational Thinking
East Kentwood Esports
Image Source: Candace Byrnes
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Developing Talent
Our Recommendations for Developing Talent
Scaling tech programs aimed at increasing academic equity in education including STEM Greenhouse, WMCAT, Midwest Tech Project, and similar organizations. TACTIC 01 STEM GREENHOUSE CASE STUDY L WMCAT CASE STUDY L MIDWEST TECH PROJECT CASE STUDY L
TACTIC 02
TACTIC 03
TACTIC 04
TACTIC 05
Launching a tech-centric high school career center to bolster student interest, engagement, and knowledge of tech.
Increasing corporate participation and support of tech-related extracurricular
Creating age-relevant exploration opportunities in technology careers for elementary, middle, and high school levels so all students are exposed to real-world opportunities in tech.
Creating an Educational Subcommittee of The Right Place Tech Council to develop a framework for educators to integrate computational thinking and other tech skills into the K-12 curriculum.
programming in the K-12 system.
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
STEM Greenhouse Case Study
Overview
Building Diversity
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
WMCAT Case Study
Midwest Tech Project Case Study
Developing Talent
STEM Greenhouse Case Study
Our Recommendations for Developing Talent STEM Greenhouse provides training in STEM-related skills for youth, as early as third grade through senior year of high school, in vulnerable communities through after-school programming, summer camps, and instruction during the school day with a commitment
TACTIC 02 to diversity, equity, and inclusion at its core. The organization’s STEM Scholars program focuses on engaging middle school students by promoting hands-on learning opportunities. Additionally, the Sankofa STEM Academy is a 5-week immersive summer program. The STEM Greenhouse also provides opportunities for young people to listen to speakers and engage with mentors who resemble them and have had similar experiences. While STEM Greenhouse focuses most on individual academic victories, the program delivers an impressive impact on the region’s diverse tech talent pipeline, with participants 50% more likely to continue taking advanced math and science courses in high school. Launching a tech-centric high school career center to bolster student interest, engagement, and knowledge of tech.
Scaling tech programs aimed at increasing academic equity in education including STEM Greenhouse, WMCAT, Midwest Tech Project, and similar organizations. TACTIC 01 STEM GREENHOUSE CASE STUDY L WMCAT CASE STUDY L MIDWEST TECH PROJECT CASE STUDY L
TACTIC 03
TACTIC 04
TACTIC 05
Increasing corporate participation and support of tech-related extracurricular
Creating age-relevant exploration opportunities in technology careers for elementary, middle, and high school levels so all students are exposed to real-world opportunities in tech.
Creating an Educational Subcommittee of The Right Place Tech Council to develop a framework for educators to integrate computational thinking and other tech skills into the K-12 curriculum.
programming in the K-12 system.
Image Source: STEM Greenhouse
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
STEM Greenhouse Case Study
Overview
Building Diversity
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
WMCAT Case Study
Midwest Tech Project Case Study
Developing Talent
The West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology Case Study
Scaling tech programs aimed at increasing academic equity in education including STEM Greenhouse, WMCAT, Midwest Tech Project, and similar organizations. TACTIC 01 STEM GREENHOUSE CASE STUDY L WMCAT CASE STUDY L MIDWEST TECH PROJECT CASE STUDY L TACTIC 02 The West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology ( WMCAT ) provides equitable access to opportunity for young people and adults to make economic progress in their lives and the community. WMCAT advances this mission through career training for adults living with under- and unemployment, arts and technology engagement for middle and high school students, and social enterprise business models. WMCAT partners with leaders in business, education and government to find new on-ramps to opportunity, including initiatives to support technology and cybersecurity professionals while helping to diversify the talent pipeline in emerging fields. Specific to growing and diversifying the tech field, WMCAT’s Cyber Hub initiatives include offering tuition- Launching a tech-centric high school career center to bolster student interest, engagement, and knowledge of tech. free pathways to entry-level careers in information technology to adults living with under employment, and providing space and partnership for trainings, vendor showcases and networking events with the West Michigan Cyber Security Consortium. Our Recommendations for Developing Talent
TACTIC 03
TACTIC 04
TACTIC 05
Increasing corporate participation and support of tech-related extracurricular
Creating age-relevant exploration opportunities in technology careers for elementary, middle, and high school levels so all students are exposed to real-world opportunities in tech.
Creating an Educational Subcommittee of The Right Place Tech Council to develop a framework for educators to integrate computational thinking and other tech skills into the K-12 curriculum.
programming in the K-12 system.
Image Source: WMCAT
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
STEM Greenhouse Case Study
Overview
Building Diversity
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
WMCAT Case Study
Developing Talent
Midwest Tech Project Case Study
Midwest Tech Project Case Study
Our Recommendations for Developing Talent Based in Grand Rapids, the Midwest Tech Project strives to promote diversity in tech by exposing people of color to opportunities within the tech sector, career pathways and business startup opportunities in tech. MTP connects with the areas most diverse neighborhoods through extensive programming,
TACTIC 02 events, after school activities and mentorship. Further, the Midwest Tech Project assists Black and Brown entrepreneurs and startup organizations in developing business plans, marketing, financial, legal, and other resources crucial to start up success.
Scaling tech programs aimed at increasing academic equity in education including STEM Greenhouse, WMCAT, Midwest Tech Project, and similar organizations. TACTIC 01 STEM GREENHOUSE CASE STUDY L WMCAT CASE STUDY L MIDWEST TECH PROJECT CASE STUDY L
TACTIC 03
TACTIC 04
TACTIC 05
Launching a tech-centric high school career center to bolster student interest, engagement, and knowledge of tech.
Increasing corporate participation and support of tech-related extracurricular
Creating age-relevant exploration opportunities in technology careers for elementary, middle, and high school levels so all students are exposed to real-world opportunities in tech.
Creating an Educational Subcommittee of The Right Place Tech Council to develop a framework for educators to integrate computational thinking and other tech skills into the K-12 curriculum.
programming in the K-12 system.
Image Source: Midwest Tech Project
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Reskilling Talent
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the dramatic and immediate shift to tech for businesses across sectors. From advanced point-of-sale systems at restaurants and retailers to increased automation on the manufacturing shop floor and the shift to virtual work, workers and consumers alike are more exposed to technology than ever before. To some degree, every company is a tech company and requires employees with a level of technical sophistication.
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Reskilling Talent
The tech sector and education partners can leverage existing models to expand the talent pipeline through retraining and upskilling. Greater Grand Rapid’s manufacturing sector has demonstrated the success of such models through close relationships between skilled trades programs and regional employers. Furthermore, our local universities and community colleges have shown their willingness to create programs to respond to industry demand.
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Reskilling Talent
Local universities and major tech companies offer numerous opportunities for retraining and upskilling. Davenport University offers an awarded-winning cybersecurity program and Grand Rapids Community College provides two- year programs in computer programming, computer support, and network administration designed for students to graduate directly into the workforce. Stackable credentials and online training programs through major tech companies also provide additional options for retraining and upskilling.
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Davenport Cyber Case Study
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Reskilling Talent
Local universities and major tech companies offer numerous opportunities for retraining and upskilling. Davenport University offers an awarded-winning cybersecurity program and Grand Rapids Community College provides two- year programs in computer programming, computer support, and network administration designed for students to graduate directly into the workforce. Stackable credentials and online training programs through major tech companies also provide additional options for retraining and upskilling.
Davenport University Cyber Defense and Security Program
Image Source: Davenport University
students and features a 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. The college is one of 16 schools across the country designated as a Center of Digital Forensics for Academic Excellence by the Department of Cyber Crime Center. The school is also recognized as an academic institution of excellence by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security.
Davenport University offers a stackable credential program in Cyber Defense and Security through its College of Technology. The stackable structure allows students to begin their careers in cybersecurity by completing a certificate program to secure entry-level positions. From there, students can go on to layer more advanced education, including a Cybersecurity Associate degree, Bachelor of Science in Cyber Defense, and a Master of Science in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity. Davenport’s College of Information Technology currently enrolls approximately 850
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Davenport Cyber Case Study
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Reskilling Talent
Our Recommendations for Reskilling Talent
Creating readily deployable models for retraining and upskilling workers closely linked to regional employers that can be housed within community colleges and other institutions. TACTIC 01
TACTIC 02
TACTIC 03
TACTIC 04
Establishing partnerships with major tech enterprises such as Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and LinkedIn to grow local completions of these industry-led tech certification programs.
Benchmarking and scaling existing employer training and co-op models to include more companies and talent.
Building upon the computer training programs offered by the Urban League and Hispanic Center, intentionally growing the diversity of the tech talent pipeline.
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Attracting Talent
Educating Talent
Our institutions currently graduate approximately 480 tech graduates annually. Reaching our goal of educating 12,000 more people will require a 3x increase in college graduates. Greater Grand Rapids’ colleges and universities produce tech talent spanning computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, and other tech-related fields. By providing ample opportunities for students to engage with companies in cutting-edge tech fields throughout their education journey, we can create an environment where college students are more likely to choose Greater Grand Rapids and more apt to stay once they graduate.
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FSU Center for Virtual Learning
Image Source: Grand Valley State University
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Attracting Talent
Educating Talent
Our institutions currently graduate approximately 480 tech graduates annually. Reaching our goal of educating 12,000 more people will require a 3x increase in college graduates. Greater Grand Rapids’ colleges and universities produce tech talent spanning computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, and other tech-related fields. By providing ample opportunities for students to engage with companies in cutting-edge tech fields throughout their education journey, we can create an environment where college students are more likely to choose Greater Grand Rapids and more apt to stay once they graduate. Ferris State University Center for Virtual Learning
Ferris State University is nearing completion on a $32 million Center for Virtual Learning (CVL) which will house a number of the university’s most high- tech programs including the School of Information Security and Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence and Project Management, Digital Media, and others. The 64,000-square-foot facility will include a Faraday room—the first of its kind in Michigan—which isolates all network communication for research and instruction in artificial technology. Courses in cybersecurity, internet of things, machine learning, natural language processing, and other cutting- edge technologies will be taught in the new facility. Additionally, CVL will be the anchor facility for Ferris State’s Esports team, providing the first purpose-built Esports arena on a university campus in Michigan.
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FSU Center for Virtual Learning
Image Source: Grand Valley State University
Image Source: Ferris State University
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Attracting Talent
Educating Talent
Our Recommendations for Educating Talent
TACTIC 01
TACTIC 02 Scaling the Applied Computing Institute at Grand Valley State University to aid in college graduate enrollment, retention, and enterprise engagement.
TACTIC 03
TACTIC 04
Mimicking long-established industry partnerships for engineers and nurses by creating pathways and opportunities for computer science and other tech graduates to engage with regional companies through
Developing a central landing page showing all tech-related programming and projects being conducted by West Michigan institutions.
Leveraging an Educational Subcommittee of The Right Place Tech Council to bridge gaps and encourage collaborations between universities, community colleges, regional tech businesses and other stakeholders.
employer-sponsored research programs, internships, co-ops, and other programs.
APPLIED COMPUTING INSTITUTE L
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Attracting Talent
Educating Talent
Grand Valley State University Applied Computing Institute The Applied Computing Institute (ACI) at Grand Valley State University gives both undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to work closely with major employers on real-world projects. Each undergraduate senior project is sponsored by a sponsoring company. For 15 weeks, seniors work closely with the company under faculty supervision to go through an entire product development process. Graduate students involved with ACI work on higher-end and more complex projects. A sponsoring company will create a statement of work to solve a problem or develop a process. Graduate students are paid a stipend and work on the project as they complete their graduate degree.
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Partnering with Whirlpool
Image Source: Grand Valley State University
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Attracting Talent
Educating Talent
Grand Valley State University Applied Computing Institute The Applied Computing Institute (ACI) at Grand Valley State University gives both undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to work closely with major employers on real-world projects. Each undergraduate senior project is sponsored by a sponsoring company. For 15 weeks, seniors work closely with the company under faculty supervision to go through an entire product development process. In 2020, computer science students at ACI conducted a joint project with engineers at Whirlpool aimed at improving the company’s smart appliance technologies. Whirlpool tasked the students with designing Graduate students involved with ACI work on higher-end and more complex projects. A sponsoring company will create a statement of work to solve a problem or develop a process. Graduate students are paid a stipend and work on the project as they complete their graduate degree. a mobile app allowing Whirlpool employees to contribute data to enhance the user experience of Whirlpool’s Smart Countertop Oven. Specifically, the app was designed to allow Whirlpool employees the ability Students Partnering with Whirlpool
to contribute data by annotating photos of food. The data was then used to train and improve image recognition algorithms to automatically recognize food when placed on the countertop oven.
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Partnering with Whirlpool
Images Source: Whirlpool Corporation
Image Source: Grand Valley State University
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Brain Drain Market Opportunity to Attract Talent from Outside Regions
Attracting Tech Talent
-25,000
The tech labor market is mobile. In general, tech workers are attracted to areas that offer the most opportunities in their field, with the best pay relative to cost of living. These workers also generally place a high amount of value on placemaking and other community factors when choosing a place to live. Often, these criteria are not aligned with where an individual received their degree. Many of the country’s largest metropolitan areas have experienced a so-called “brain drain” in tech in recent years. For example, the New York metropolitan area lost 65,500 tech workers from 2016 to 2020, while Boston and Chicago lost 37,500 and 32,407 , respectively, over the same period. As tech workers continue to move across the country, we must ensure organizations and companies across Greater Grand Rapids are making targeted efforts to attract these talented individuals to our region. Organizations such as Hello West Michigan, a regional talent attraction and retention organization, are poised to scale such attraction efforts.
-25,391 LA/Orange Co.
-26,000
-27,000
-31,851 Washignton D.C.
-32,000
-32,407 Chicago
-37,500
-37,376 Boston
Hello West Michigan Case Study Plus-Circle
-65,000
-65,478 New York
CBRE Research, U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, Statistics Canada, National Center for Education Statistics (Metro), Canadian Universities, 2021
THE WHY
ECOSYSTEM
GROWTH
TALENT
RESOURCES
Overview
Building Diversity
Developing Talent
Reskilling Talent
Educating Talent
Attracting Talent
Brain Drain Market Opportunity to Attract Talent from Outside Regions
Hello West Michigan The Boomerang Effect
Attracting Tech Talent
-25,000
The tech labor market is mobile. In general, tech workers are attracted to areas that offer the most opportunities in their field, with the best pay relative to cost of living. These workers also generally place a high amount of value on placemaking and other community factors when choosing a place to live. Often, these criteria are not aligned with where an individual received their degree. Many of the country’s largest metropolitan areas have experienced a so-called “brain drain” in tech in recent years. For example, the New York metropolitan area lost 65,500 tech workers from 2016 to 2020, while Boston and Chicago lost 37,500 and 32,407 , respectively, over the same period. Hello West Michigan’s talent attraction efforts focus on education, attraction, and connections. They seek to bring together potential relocatees and hiring employers through a variety of methods. By educating potential relocatees through its website and social media, they help job seekers determine if the region is the right fit or connect them with resources post relocation. Hello West Michigan is proactive in attraction by running out-bound marketing campaigns promoting the region. These campaigns focus on targeting people As tech workers continue to move across the country, we must ensure organizations and companies across Greater Grand Rapids are making targeted efforts to attract these talented individuals to our region. Organizations such as Hello West Michigan, a regional talent attraction and retention organization, are poised to scale such attraction efforts. living outside of Michigan who have a prior connection to the state. Millions of advertising impressions have been served since 2014 and the campaigns are structured in a way that allows the organization to track resulting hires.
-25,391 LA/Orange Co.
-26,000
-27,000
-31,851 Washignton D.C.
-32,000
-32,407 Chicago
-37,500
-37,376 Boston
Hello West Michigan Case Study Plus-Circle
-65,000
-65,478 New York
CBRE Research, U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, Statistics Canada, National Center for Education Statistics (Metro), Canadian Universities, 2021
Image Source: Hello West Michigan
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