20Fathoms, Traverse City’s tech incubator, has landed a $250,000 grant that will allow the organization to expand its community education and workforce development programming.

The grant comes from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Workforce Development (LEO-WD) and is part of the Michigan Industry Cluster Approach 3.0 (MICA 3.0). 20Fathoms previously received grant funding via the MICA 2.0 program, which helped the organization launch several local tech learning programs in 2019.

Those programs – tccodes and tccyber – have since “provided training to more than 250 people in the Grand Traverse region,” according to 20Fathoms Executive Director Eric Roberts. The tccodes program is intended to teach software development skills, while tccyber provides a “learning community for cybersecurity professionals.”

Both programs will be continued and grown thanks to the new MICA 3.0 funding. In sharing the news of the grant, 20Fathoms also announced plans to introduce “a new learning community focused on data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.” All courses are set to begin in February and are open to participants “at all stages of their careers.”

“Some of [our tccodes and tccyber participants] were starting down a new career path and learning the fundamentals,” Roberts said. “Others have been working in tech for years and learned new skills that positioned them for promotions. We’re grateful to Michigan LEO-WD for this grant funding to help us continue this work and the advancement of tech careers in our region.” 

20Fathoms also noted that it is currently collaborating with multiple community partners “to develop and expand workforce development programs that address the region’s critical need for qualified tech professionals.” Those partners include Northwest Michigan Works!, Northwestern Michigan College, Michigan Tech University, Traverse Connect, Newton’s Road, TCNewTech, and others.