A new program, called the COVID-19 Reskilling Initiative, will expand the number of qualified tech workers in Louisville while helping those impacted by the COVID-19 economic disruptions.

The program, launched by the Future of Work Initiative powered by Microsoft, encourages residents to access free, self-paced online data skills training. The launch of the catalogue of free resources is part of a broader effort to help Louisville assert itself as a hub for the emerging data economy.

Earlier this year, Louisville hosted a summit focused on Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work, and the need to expand Louisville’s tech talent pipeline to meet the workforce demand was a major topic of discussion.

The new effort kicked off in April with a “30-day Data Upskilling Challenge” to boost the number of people in Louisville with data-economy skills. The initiative will be raffling off a laptop each day for those who participate for 30 days. Each person will receive a badge upon completion of their training for their LinkedIn profile.

The programs will allow people to build valuable skills and obtain specific, industry-recognized credentials, with the goal of expanding the pipeline of workers qualified to fill jobs in data-focused career tracks, including data analytics, digital marketing, software engineering and user experience design.

The Future of Work Initiative is a partnership between Microsoft and Louisville Metro Government around artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and data science that involves upskilling the workforce, helping companies implement emerging technologies, accelerating equity into digital fields and using technology to solve social issues.