MONTGOMERY, Ala., January 26, 2023 — The Montgomery Chamber, Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed and Montgomery County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton announced today that CSX is partnering with The Alabama Collective and the Chamber’s TechMGM initiative to elevate minority technology talent in the Montgomery region through hands-on app development training sessions at local Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) campuses.
The $30,000 grant from CSX is funding “Appy Hours” to expose students to the ways software application development can build a path to careers in technology. Ed Farm is a non-profit organization and a leader in digital skills access across the state of Alabama. Since its founding in 2020, Ed Farm has provided immersive STEM training to thousands of teachers, students and community members.
The grant will enable The Alabama Collective to leverage Ed Farm’s approach and technology to further the significant progress it has made in the Montgomery and Birmingham communities over the past year in elevating minority technology talent and entrepreneurs.
“This partnership with CSX will enable more students to be exposed to the career field that’s in the highest demand in the state for the upcoming year,” said Charisse Stokes, executive director of TechMGM, an initiative of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and Alabama Collective principal partner. “This digital skills series will prepare our students for a more competitive workforce.”
“CSX’s contribution and support of The Alabama Collective’s mission aligns with our company’s strong stance to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce in the communities where we provide safe and efficient rail-based transportation solutions,” said Arthur Adams, CSX senior vice president of Sales and Marketing. “We are pleased to partner with the City of Montgomery, local HBCUs and The Alabama Collective on this initiative that supports the growth and prosperity of Montgomery and its residents.”
About The Alabama Collective
Birmingham and Montgomery communities have developed a partnership through which they aspire to elevate minority tech talent and entrepreneurs. This collaborative effort, entitled, The Alabama Collective, seeks to bring together a plethora of talented tech professionals and entrepreneurs to develop and expand the state’s emerging tech, innovation and entrepreneurial programs, while also preserving the existing infrastructure which has proven to be vital to the economic prosperity of the state.
The Alabama Collective, led by TechMGM and Tech Birmingham, have been instrumental in the growth and development of the existing technical landscape and have collaborated diligently to stand up great initiatives like: Montgomery TechLab, Bronze Valley, EdFarm and the Lab on Dexter, a newly developed social and tech innovation facility located on historic Dexter Avenue.
www.thealabamacollective.com
About Ed Farm
Ed Farm equips educators in schools and communities with innovative tools and teaching strategies that support active learning for all students. We envision an inventive world where all people have access to the tools they need to fill or create the jobs of the future. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama Ed Farm launched February 2020 in partnership with the Apple Community Education Initiative (CEI) and the Alabama Power Foundation. Ed Farm provides immersive learning opportunities for educators and K12 students, and digital skills training to adult learners.
www.eddfarm.org
About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural and consumer products. For nearly 200 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation’s economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation’s population resides. It also links over 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corp. and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).
ABOUT THE MONTGOMERY CHAMBER
With a mission to drive economic prosperity and build a better life for all in the capital region, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber is a full-spectrum economic development public/private partnership representing 1,600 businesses and organizations that represent more than 90,000 employees throughout Central Alabama.
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Jina Miniard, 334-799-8458
jminiard@montgomerychamber.com
