CHARLESTON, W.Va. – NewForce, Generation West Virginia’s six-month, fully-remote, tuition-free coding school for West Virginia residents, has opened applications for its seventh cohort of students. For the first time, a living stipend ($11/hour for the full length of the program) will be provided to students who demonstrate financial need.
Through NewForce’s immersive curriculum and extensive job placement support, individuals with little or no coding experience are equipped with the skills needed to secure and excel in software development jobs across the Mountain State.
“NewForce prepares West Virginians of a wide variety of backgrounds and experience levels to launch a career in tech,” said Jordan Castelloe, NewForce program director. “This year, by offering a need-based living stipend, we hope to make this life-changing opportunity accessible to even more people.”
To date, 86% of job-seeking graduates of the NewForce program have found employment in software development within six months of graduating, and a majority work remotely or have flexible work options. The median starting salary for NewForce graduates is $48,000.
“I’m a completely different person than I was a year ago when I began NewForce,” said Steven Powers, a former medical transporter and graduate of NewForce’s fifth cohort. “I’m now celebrating seven months as a software engineer and am happier than I’ve ever been professionally. I have stability, and I’m doing work I feel passionate about.”
By training and connecting West Virginians to existing technology jobs, as well as helping attract new technology opportunities to the Mountain State, NewForce is building a tech economy in West Virginia that works for everyone.
A live information session will be held via Zoom on Nov. 3 at 7pm. Prospective applicants can learn more at generationwv.org/programs/newforce/ and register for the information session here. NewForce applications close on Nov. 26.
NewForce is a program of Generation West Virginia (GWV), the statewide organization dedicated to attracting, retaining, and advancing young talent in the Mountain State.
The total cost of the NewForce program is $840,863 annually. $488,734 (58%) is funded through a U.S. Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration grant. $296,444 (35%) is funded by the Economic Development Administration. $58,685 (7%) is funded through non-federal resources.