Computer course to be offered in Saratoga County

WILTON, N.Y. >> A new computer programming course will provide basic skills needed to fill many current Capital Region job openings, including some with six-figure salaries.

Applications are now being accepted for the 12-week Front-End Web Development course, scheduled for Jan. 29 to April 18 at SUNY Adirondack’s Wilton campus.

It will be taught by instructors from the non-profit Albany Can Code, whose mission is identifying and recruiting talent for area employers. Founder Annmarie Lanesey, of Troy, discussed details of the offering during a recent information session with employee Eddy Abraham, and representatives of partnering institutions such as SUNY Schenectady and the Saratoga Prosperity Partnership.

“There are 2,000 software developer jobs in the Capital Region,” Lanesey said. “Many

are not entry level. You have to start somewhere. We want to build a pipeline to help people get those jobs.”

Abraham said, “You do not have to have a strong technology background to start a career in coding (computer programming). It’s a beginner level course. All you need is the determination to do it.”

Three-hour classes will be held twice per week from 5:45-8:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Participants learn technical skills such as HTML/CSS and JavaScript, which form the foundation of the modern web. Students are also taught the basics of user interface design and work in teams to build projects for community organizations to get real-world experience.

The cost is $1,500, but financial aid is available for eligible applicants.

The course is well-suited for young adults just getting started or people already in the workforce who want to advance themselves, Lanesey said.

“There’s real money, real opportunity to be had through this course,” she said. “It’s a good way to augment your skills no matter where you are. Even a little coding knowledge can take you a long way.”

Lanesey cited the example of a Rensselaer County man who was doing maintenance for a big box retailer, took the course, got a software company internship, and wound up landing a job that pays $75,000.

Some of these same skills can be obtained through online courses. But class participants also get help with resume preparation, hear guest speakers, and receive mentoring from instructors, which online courses don’t offer, Lanesey said.

Albany Can Code, founded two years ago, is already offering the course in Albany, Troy and Schenectady. This marks the first time it’s being held in Saratoga County, in cooperation with the Prosperity Partnership, the county’s designated economic development agency.

“As one of the fastestgrowing economies in New York, it is imperative that Saratoga County continues to build a skilled and savvy technology workforce,” said Marty Vanags, Prosperity Partnership president. “This program aligns perfectly with our long-term, sustainable approach to economic development that addresses current needs while planning for future growth.”

For information and to register go to https://albanycancode.org/for-students/courses/front-endweb-development-course/.