Tech talent placement company LaunchCode recognized

GOV. GINA M. Raimondo learns to code with the help of Kenzan apprentice Carlos Hernandez. Next to Raimondo is Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed and Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien. / COURTESY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
GOV. GINA M. Raimondo learns to code with the help of Kenzan apprentice Carlos Hernandez. Next to Raimondo is Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed and Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien. / COURTESY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

PAWTUCKET – LaunchCode, a tech talent placement company, was welcomed recently by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo and other state officials.
St. Louis-based LaunchCode last year received a $350,000 Real Jobs Rhode Island implementation grant to help place nontraditional candidates into information technology jobs.
Raimondo, during a March 1 event heralding the opening of LaunchCode’s fourth location here, discussed how the state is helping employers meet their IT skills shortages. LaunchCode is working out of Sprout RI, a co-working space in the Rising Sun Mills in Providence.
She was joined by Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien, state Department of Labor and Training Director Scott R. Jensen and Dean Lori Ciccomascolo of the University of Rhode Island’s College of Continuing Education. Also in attendance were officials from LaunchCode and TechHire Rhode Island, a new statewide initiative to deliver in-demand tech talent, as well as Kenzan, a software engineering and professional services firm in Pawtucket.
“Our economy is shifting rapidly and is increasingly driven by technology,” Raimondo said in a statement. “Our priority is helping Rhode Islanders build the skills they need to get good-paying jobs. As part of this effort, we are participating in President Obama’s TechHire initiative and working with LaunchCode to prepare people to compete for open positions in the IT sector in our state.”
Officials said LaunchCode will help Rhode Island build a tech talent pipeline.
“People need pathways to good jobs and companies need talented employees,” LaunchCode Executive Director Brendan Lind said. “LaunchCode can address both of these problems while supporting Rhode Island businesses and strengthening the community. We’ve already seen tremendous interest from local companies that are looking to fill tech jobs. Rhode Island’s investment in building a tech ecosystem makes it a natural fit for LaunchCode.”
The event also featured a coding lesson for Raimondo, Weed and Grebien from two apprentices at Kenzan.
Kenzan President Larry Samuels said his company “has gained so much from the tech community in Rhode Island and we are looking to provide a space for the next generation of software developers to grow and to hone their craft.”
“We feel we can provide the foundation of technical expertise and mentorship that is so integral to the success of LaunchCode’s candidates,” Samuels said.
Ciccomascolo said URI also is pleased to partner with LaunchCode to “build a bridge between student learning and more favorable employment outcomes.”
LaunchCode will offer a free coding boot camp starting May 9 at URI’s Downtown Providence Campus. Employers looking to partner with LaunchCode to hire tech talent should email Lauren Tracey at lauren@launchcode.org.

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