SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The City of Syracuse — working in partnership with MACNY, the Manufacturers Association — has launched an apprenticeship program in software development. The initiative aims to provide opportunities for “vastly upskilling the region’s digital workforce,” the office of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said in a March 24 announcement. In December 2020, the […]
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The City of Syracuse — working in partnership with MACNY, the Manufacturers Association — has launched an apprenticeship program in software development.
The initiative aims to provide opportunities for “vastly upskilling the region’s digital workforce,” the office of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said in a March 24 announcement.
In December 2020, the Syracuse Common Council passed an ordinance allowing the city to enter into an agreement with MACNY to sponsor apprenticeships in software development.
The partnership has produced the City of Syracuse’s first registered apprentice in the software-developer trade, and MACNY’s first sponsored apprenticeship in the information-technology field, per the city.
MACNY, as a partner with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL), administers registered apprenticeships in Central New York. The effort allows MACNY to act as an intermediary to help small and mid-sized businesses across New York state start registered apprenticeships for needed trades at their companies.
“Since announcing Syracuse Surge, the City has been working with private-sector partners to build a pipeline of skilled employees in the technology trades for the benefit of our region, but City government needs these workers, too,” Walsh said. “This partnership opens up opportunities to attract new employees to City government and to our region’s growing digital workforce.”
An apprentice story
When Syracuse resident Nicole Broadnax was hired by the city’s division of digital services, Syracuse wanted to place her on a formal registered apprenticeship path to becoming a software engineer.
Now, as a software-developer apprentice, Broadnax will receive a journeyman card by the end of her apprenticeship in the same way that plumbers, electricians, and those in skilled trades get their credentials.
Broadnax will also be able to earn college credit toward earning an associate degree for the training classes and work completed. That’s because the apprenticeship is paired with a NYSDOL-approved curriculum and technical instruction offered through MACNY’s educational partners.
“The exciting part about this is that it gives us a new tool to use when hiring, with the goal of diversifying the talent and skill sets in our workforce. MACNY as a partner enables us to train and promote from within or look beyond the traditional degree requirements that we typically have for more modernized and technical roles,” Kelsey May, director of digital services for the City of Syracuse, said. “Although we are starting in digital services, I can see government and partners across the region taking advantage of apprenticeships for software engineers.”
Broadnax, in an interview with MACNY, explained that she had not heard about apprenticeship pathways when she was a student, except for those centered on cosmetology. She noted that programs for technical roles in information technology were not widely known.
“Community partnerships like this are vital to filling the talent pipeline,” Randy Wolken, president and CEO of MACNY, said. “We look forward to continuing our work with the City of Syracuse and are eager to be part of Ms. Broadnax’s growth and success.”
Broadnax offered the following advice to other high-school students who may not know what’s next for their careers.
“There are so many generational barriers that can get in the way of your success [and] you may question your knowledge and experience,” Broadnax said. “But understand that you worked hard to get here, and you do deserve a seat at the table.”