Microsoft TechSpark's Success Sets a National Model

Six years ago, my career took a new direction when my mentors informed me that Microsoft wanted to invest in Wisconsin and was seeking a trusted community leader for their rural civic engagement. I was hired as the Community Engagement Manager to lead the initiative in the Green Bay and Appleton region which included 2 counties and a population of around 500,000. Shortly after, we announced the launch of Microsoft TechSpark in six rural regions across the United States. TechSpark's purpose was to explore regional challenges and determine how technology could contribute to creating employment opportunities and boosting economic growth. The goals were to gather insights and share our findings with a broader audience.

Fast forward to today, I’m excited that we announced Microsoft TechSpark expansion to all 50 US states , sharing our community engagement framework, resources, and lessons learned with community leaders nationwide. We are inviting government, business, and nonprofit leaders to join us as we continue our learning journey and find inclusive ways for all communities to address the digital divide and drive economic growth.

Our success in Wisconsin, in addressing the digital divide and promoting inclusive economic growth serves as a model for the rest of the country. In just five years, TechSpark Wisconsin catalyzed local societal change by addressing the digital divide. This success is a testament to the power of having a trusted community engagement leader on the ground, who can bring focus to local problems and drive opportunities for systemic change. This change is possible through collaboration with government, business, and nonprofit leaders and Microsoft's global resources to create tech-driven ecosystems. This has resulted in a more engaged community, demonstrating the power of technology, knowledge, resources, and support in solving local challenges.

“Digital inclusion is a priority for communities across the country. Without it people lack access to education, healthcare, jobs, and essential services - and risk being left behind in today's digital world.?By making sure everyone has access to the digital world, we make sure everyone has opportunities to prosper and excel.??Working with Microsoft has had a multiplier effect in our state and helped bring organizations together to tackle the unique challenges that communities face.”?- Missy Hughes, Secretary & CEO, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

TechSpark helped build a strong startup ecosystem, fostered innovation, and drove economic growth.

One of the key benefits of our work is our support for startups in the region. Northeast Wisconsin has a rich history of entrepreneurship, from its roots in agriculture and industry to its current resurgence in venture funding in technology startups. TitletownTech , started with the partnership between the Green Bay Packers and Microsoft, has filled a need in the community by providing venture capital and resources to technology entrepreneurs. The region is focused on building a strong startup ecosystem, fostering innovation, and driving economic growth. Matt Adamczyk, Microsoft Technologist in Resident, plays a key role in connecting Microsoft with startups and investors at TitletownTech. You can read more here .

As a result of TitletownTech, the region saw an increase in regional startup investments, including Georgia Pacific’s 1915 studios focused on sustainability startups, US Venture’s national sustainability and mobility focused accelerator, Schneider National’s innovation center, The Grove, and the New North’s New Launch Alliance startup competition. Collectively these initiatives help build a maturing startup ecosystem, with a strong network of entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and community initiatives, driving innovation and economic growth.

TechSpark transformed regional K12 education by addressing the lack of computer science programs and helped students gain hands-on work experience.

At the current pace, Wisconsin’s schools will not meet the demand from employers. According to Code.org, there are currently 8,819 open computing jobs with an average salary of $80,546 in Wisconsin, though there were only 1,557 graduates in computer science in 2020 and only 66% of all public high schools teach a foundational computer science course.

With Microsoft's support, we helped transform education in the region by addressing the lack of computer science programs in our local K12 school districts. By bringing together national and local partners, a computer science ecosystem was established, led by CESA 7, Colleen Timm. This ecosystem provides the necessary knowledge, resources, and support school districts need to prepare students for the digital economy.?

As a result, students in Northeast Wisconsin are not just using technology but creating it, with 88% of our TechSpark region schools leveraging Microsoft TEALS to train over 30 high school computer science teachers. This led to a 30% increase in AP computer science classes in local high schools, providing students with the skills they need to succeed in the digital world. Read more here about the impact our work is having in the region.

Our efforts to integrate computer science into schools are impacting students. With a focus on creation, not just usage, students are gaining hands-on experience in local companies. For example, Heartland Business Systems, teamed up with TechSpark and CESA 6 to offer computer science youth apprenticeship Information Technology opportunities for local computer science students. Watch this video to learn more.

TechSpark helped upskill individuals and address the shortage of talent in the state.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on employment in the US, with unemployment rates reaching record highs. In Wisconsin, the unemployment rate rose to 14.1% in April 2020, up from 3.1% in March of the same year. In response, I collaborated with Barb LaMue, at New North, and gener8tor's, Joe Kirgues, along with investment partners including American Family Insurance and Microsoft to create gener8tor Skills Accelerator, a free upskilling program that leverages Microsoft Skills for Jobs LinkedIn Learning career pathways and soft skills certifications. gener8tor Skills Accelerator aims to address the need for free cohort adult digital skills training, coaching, and job placement.

In just 28 months, the program successfully skilled 141 individuals, with 83% of graduates securing jobs with an average annual salary of $54,000. The success of the program has been recognized as a national model for tech training and is making a positive impact on the lives of those who participated. Read here how people’s lives are being impacted.

TechSpark helped provide employees with digital skills training, resulting in improved efficiency and productivity among local companies.

The importance of digital skills for all employees, including those in the local manufacturing industry, is recognized in the digital age. To address the limited local digital skills training programs, I led a collaborative effort with the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance, Ann Franz. The alliance conducted an Industry 4.0 needs survey and found that data analytics was the most needed skill among employees prior to the pandemic. Based on this, the alliance created a free upskilling program that utilized Microsoft Skills for Jobs and LinkedIn Learning certifications to provide employees with data analytics skills. The alliance program was later expanded to include project management and soon cybersecurity and digital literacy skills, as these were identified as rising needs in a subsequent report.

Over 100 local companies have taken advantage of the program and have seen improved efficiency and productivity among their employees. Over 830 employees have participated in the program, with 44 continuing to further education at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Power BI and advanced data analytics.

“When Microsoft talks, people listen. Your leadership role is so important because you are such an amazing convener. When Microsoft, and you Michelle, come to the table, people want to become involved as well. I really value that you are part of the solution and you’re helping to lead that conversation.”

Ann Franz, Executive Director, Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance

TechSpark helped strengthen nonprofits infrastructure to drive greater impact across the community.

In collaboration with Kim O'Brien, United Way Fox Cities, we are finding ways to bridge the gap for nonprofits facing difficulty in keeping pace with technology. We partnered with Microsoft Tech for Social Impact program and local Microsoft Consulting Partners, and now are offering managed service models at an affordable cost and providing long-term support for small nonprofits to digitally transform as they advance their missions. Local companies are co-investing to hasten this transformation, creating a supportive community for nonprofits in their digital transformation journey.

In conclusion, Microsoft’s collective impact in the region has stimulated over $35 Million of investments, impacted 80,000 students, upskilled over 6000 adults, created 260 jobs, digitally transformed over 100 businesses, and engaged 20 Microsoft programs along with 200 Microsoft employees.?

This collective impact and focus on addressing the digital divide wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for focused trusted community leaders constantly convening and collaborating with all government, business, and nonprofit leaders. TechSpark Wisconsin serves as a model for the rest of the country and demonstrates the notion that it takes the power of technology, knowledge, resources, and support to solve local challenges in order to accelerate economic opportunity.

I invite all community leaders to join us and learn how to create local ecosystems that drive societal opportunity in their communities. Explore our playbook and Resource Hub at TechSpark and Sign up for our webinar to find out how we can support your digital access, skills, and transformation efforts. I am eager to support and guide communities as they embark on this exciting chapter with TechSpark."

Through the TechSpark program, Microsoft partners with communities to understand their unique regional challenges and to explore solutions, programs, and partnerships that will be most effective at the local level.??