“Accelerant is not a dating service but we are really good matchmakers.”
That’s how the Silicon Slopes company bills itself online. Last Friday it partnered with Bottega and held a Coding Camp at Utah State University Eastern.
Coding wasn’t at all the only reason for the event. Accelerant had dedicated itself to bringing more jobs to Carbon County, while also addressing the opioid crisis plaguing the area.
CEO Joel Smith hosted the event, “by linking rural communities and urban centers, we are solving big city talent shortages with small town opportunity,” he said.
Bottega a software development company presented a Coding Camp for students and local residents. Software development or programming trains students for careers in a fast growing industry. They offered “60 $500 scholarships for Digital Literacy,” to those in attendance.
Best projects from the Digital Literacy class are eligible for five full scholarships and 10 partial scholarships.
Bottega Co-founder Scott Schwab explained how his company partners with Accelerant and USUE to facilitate this process.
“We have an articulation agreement that allows students to transition into the USUE education system,” he said. “Every component of the workforce is changing, the economy is becoming digital. I can live anywhere, work anywhere, don’t have to live in Salt Lake City ,” he added.
“Everything is run off of some kind of analytics, there is software in every industry, we need people from all over to enhance coding,” he said. “After graduation you can work for companies like HealthEquity,” he concluded.
HealthEquity partnered with Accelerant initially bringing 28 jobs to Carbon County. They now employ 60 people.
Angelic Sanchez explained how this works. ”Accelerant was able to set up a HealthEquity call center in Price,” she said. “I started out as a Basic Services Specialist now I’m a Marketing Coordinator. Health Equity is a Health Savings Account Company, they train their staff in technical skills such as computer coding.
Accelerant utilized a local high speed broadband service, making this possible.
Regarding the opioid crisis, several companies are looking at moving into the area. By networking with Accelerant and using broadband and computer coding they hope to make this dream a reality.
Blast Resolve, a high speed ambulance service, “connecting healthcare at the speed of sound.” CEO, President and founder Dr. Stuart Stein was in attendance. “This is really a wonder what’s being done for economic development in Southeastern and rural Utah and is the basis for future job growth,” he stated. Brett Griffiths, Executive Director of Building Beginnings, want to expand into internet technology in rural Utah. “I want to start coding camps and connect with Joel at Accelerant,” he said. Brett runs a recovery center in Provo that provides housing and employment as well as therapy. Nic Carroll a recovering addict, former gang member and “career criminal” is Brett’s housing coordinator. “Treatment’s only three hours a day, you need a job and a place to stay,” he said. Building Beginnings claims a 85 percent success rate. Amber Baum works for OAU, Overdose Awareness Utah. After her daughter overdosed on heroin the day after Christmas, she became involved in treatment. Her focus is on naloxone, to save addicts from overdosing. “Now all police departments and firefighters in Utah carry it,” she said. Overdose Awareness Day will be held at the Utah State Capitol on August 31 at 6pm.
“The vision to connect struggling rural communities to the economic prosperity across the Wasatch Front was created by Accelerant. It uses opportunity hubs to train and connect rural residents with urban based companies that desperately need skilled workers. After training employees can telecommute from their homes,” states their website.
Coding camp offers more than programming
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