When
eBizIT PA was
founded in 2002, not a lot was known about the IT business. At that
time, scientists and programmers had discovered that more information
could be sent over a single cable in a second
than was sent over the entire Internet in a month in 1997. Development
professionals knew they were on the precipice of something huge but had
no idea how to build on it.
Today, IT is one of the fastest
growing fields in the U.S., expected to grow 17 percent in the next
eight years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In
Pennsylvania, a renewed interest in health IT has spawned hundreds of
new businesses. To continue the success IT businesses have had in
Pennsylvania, Governor Rendell's office announced this week that a
series of grants totaling $27 million will be allocated amongst regional
business incubators like
Ben Franklin Technology Partners and
Dream It Ventures,
with the goal of improving the state's high tech sector. But before IT
entrepreneurs can get to the commercialization stage, they have to learn
the ropes. This grant funding will help eBizIT continue its
successful education programs in the more rural sections of the state.
"This
grant will allow us to get resources directly into companies across the
Commonwealth," says eBizIT Executive Director Ron May. "Most of the
money will be used for our
Technology Apprentice Program which has roughly an 80-percent hire rate upon completion of the apprenticeship."
May also said the grant will help fund the
IT Kickstart
program, an IT commercialization grant program that offers funding for
consulting and business services. In a business like IT, where speed of
information is key to success, it should come as no surprise that within
a week of receiving the funding, eBizIT was once again accepting
applications for Kickstart.
"Though the grant funding we provide
is not a huge amount of money, the grants are often enough to give a
small business owner or manager a needed push to make this type of
critical workforce investment," says May. "Since our inception,
companies have reported hiring an additional 775 employees as a direct
result of our programs. I would encourage your readers to visit
ebizitpa.org to learn more about us."
Source: Ron May, eBizIT PAWriter: John Steele