Microsoft TechSpark
Digital Skilling in Richland County
Microsoft TechSpark
Talent is everywhere, Opportunity is not
The Microsoft TechSpark program is designed to accelerate local economic opportunity across communities in the United States. Whether it is promoting digital skills and employability or job creation, TechSpark provides opportunities in places where talent often gets overlooked. The Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development is representing Ohio in the Microsoft TechSpark program.
Local opportunity
In Ohio, uniting businesses, government entities, K-12 school districts, and higher education around the common goal of creating and sustaining a digital education ecosystem is essential.
Engaging the community
Richland Community Development Group is uniting their digital education ecosystem. Learning from Microsoft TechSpark helped to create multiple programs that build Richland County’s ecosystem:
- Girls Who Code Partnership: Five clubs formed with 40 students engaged.
- Teacher Technology Boot Camp: Six technology-oriented business visits, creating curriculum lessons and receiving graduate-level credit through Ashland University
- Code a Carnival Camp Central State College leveraging Microsoft MakeCode curriculum
- 179th Cyberspace Wing: Facilitating an Electronics for Beginners summer camp
- Cybersecurity Certificates: Assisting Ohio State University in creating certificates
- Stellar Robotics’ Shawshank Showdown introduced FIRST Robotics and all its programs to Richland County.
Utilizing the expertise gained through collaborating with Microsoft TechSpark strengthened Richland Community Development Group’s reputation.
The Empowering Communities Playbook played a critical role to help facilitate community conversations, implement new programs, and build ecosystems to sustain programs that drive local impact.
“Richland County’s Microsoft TechSpark Initiative establishes a digital ecosystem that empowers community members to improve their digital skills while fostering economic development.”
Angie Cirone
Microsoft TechSpark Fellow Ohio
Activating local ecosystems
An ecosystem is vital for fostering collaboration and innovation with communities, serving as a dynamic network where diverse stakeholders come together to drive collective progress. Ecosystem partners for this program include:
- Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center, North Central State College, The Ohio State University at Mansfield, 179thCyberspace Wing, Dallas Design & Technology, ES Consulting, AvitaHealth System, DRM Productions, Inspirations Academy, Madison Comprehensive High School, SpringmillSTEM Elementary School, and Microsoft
Impact to date
Community Impact metrics evaluate how well initiatives improve communities, guiding decisions, fostering sustainability, encouraging collaboration, and empowering communities.
- 40 –3 thru 12th grade students enrolled across 5 Girls Who Code clubs.
- 15 teachers exposed to local technology career pathways;
- 15 high school students receive an intro to Arduino programming;
- 25 middle school students Code a Carnival
- 19 teams of 5 to 15 students from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan participated in the Shawshank Showdown
In the news
Sharing the story more broadly is crucial as it allows others to learn from your experiences, fostering knowledge sharing and collective growth.
“We are proud to cultivate the next generation of programmers and tech leaders together.”
Elizabeth Shirk, M.Ed.
Springmill STEM Elementary
Microsoft TechSpark
Learn about the impact across the U.S.