FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 5, 2018

CITY INITIATIVE SELECTED BY HARVARD UNIVERSITY AS ONE OF THE TOP 25 INNOVATIONS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT FOR 2018

Award Recognizes Public-Sector Programs that Expand Opportunities to Groups Historically Excluded from Access

New York – NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Gregg Bishop today announces that the City's NYC Tech Talent Pipeline (TTP) initiative has been selected by Harvard University's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation as one of the Top 25 Innovations in American Government for 2018. The award recognizes public-sector programs that successfully advance the economic potential of their communities, specifically programs that increase opportunities for groups that have been historically excluded from access.

TTP, the City's tech Industry Partnership launched by Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2014, is designed to support the inclusive growth of NYC's tech sector and prepare New Yorkers for 21st century jobs. TTP works with companies, educators, policymakers, funders, and communities to identify and develop talent needs and solutions to connect New Yorkers to careers in tech. One such industry-led solution is TTP's NYC Tech-in-Residence Corps, which is now recruiting additional industry professionals to teach emerging tech skills in local college classrooms.

"We believe that encouraging equal economic opportunity for all New Yorkers through initiatives like the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline is a common sense approach to strengthening our local economy," said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. "It is an honor to have this effort recognized by Harvard University as one of the Top 25 Innovations in American Government for 2018."

The NYC Tech-in-Residence Corps equips industry professionals to teach for-credit electives at CUNY college campuses that provide students with the in-demand skills and project-based experience they need to launch careers in tech. Now in its second semester, the Corps consists of professionals from over 30 companies, including LinkedIn, Bank of America, and Etsy, who cover topics such as artificial intelligence, software engineering, data science, and web development. Participating colleges include Baruch College, the City College of NY, College of Staten Island, Hunter College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and Lehman College.

Industry professionals interested in joining this program can apply here. Applications are open now through September 14, 2018.

"Connecting the world's professionals to make them more productive and successful is our mission at LinkedIn, and the Tech-in-Residence Corps is helping do just that for CUNY students." said Nikolai Avteniev, Software Engineer at LinkedIn and NYC Tech-in-Residence Corps member. "We're so excited to support the next generation of talent through Tech-in-Residence Corps and are thrilled that this work has been recognized as one of Harvard University's Top 25 Innovations in American Government."

Companies seeking more information on the NYC Tech-in-Residence Corps program can visit techtalentpipeline.nyc.

More information on Harvard University's 2018 Innovations in American Government Award can be found here.

About the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline
Launched by Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2014, the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline is the City's tech Industry Partnership, designed to support the inclusive growth of the NYC tech sector by delivering quality jobs for New Yorkers and qualified talent for the City's businesses. The Tech Talent Pipeline works with 250 companies, 17 local colleges, and additional public and private partners to define employer needs, develop training and education models to meet these needs, and scale solutions throughout the City, delivering quality talent for the City's businesses and quality jobs for New Yorkers. techtalentpipeline.nyc

About NYC Department of Small Business Services' Industry Partnerships
The NYC Tech Talent Pipeline is one of SBS's five industry partnerships that work with employers, industry and trade organizations, organized labor, non-profits, training providers and educational institutions, private philanthropy, and workforce organizations to build a sustainable and robust pipeline of local talent to fill New York City's jobs, create formal career paths to good jobs, reduce barriers to employment and sustain or increase middle-class jobs. Other industry partnerships include the construction, healthcare, hospitality, and industrial fields.

About the Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
SBS helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building a fairer economy in neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information on all SBS services, go to nyc.gov/sbs, call 311, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.