FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 13, 2020

CITY LAUNCHES DIGITAL TRAINING TOOL TO HELP NEW YORKERS START NEW CAREERS

NEW YORK — The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Jonnel Doris announced the launch of Career Discovery NYC, a centralized resource to assist New Yorkers with career discovery and training. The portal will provide online, no-cost trainings that prepare New Yorkers with the necessary skills to pursue a pathway for an in-demand career.

"Thousands of New Yorkers will be conducting much more of their lives in a virtual environment. This portal is a step to ensure that they are well equipped and supported in their career exploration, and to put them on a path toward economic prosperity," said Jonnel Doris, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. "We must continue to adapt to a new normal as our workforce looks to us to help them get back on their feet."

The portal provides information on and resources for New Yorkers to:

• Explore: Learn about a career, including skill requirements, industry demand and salary expectations
• Discover: Take an introductory course to discover the skills required for the job and determine whether the career is a good match
• Prepare: Prepare for a rigorous job training program by practicing foundational techniques and gaining familiarity with the work
• Train: Join an intensive training program that will put an individual on a direct path toward starting a new career

SBS will also provide information on where to obtain low-cost or free internet access and support services.

This portal will launch with information about careers in web development. An Intro to Coding course, which teaches the fundamentals of the world's most popular software language, JavaScript, will be offered by Fullstack Academy. In addition, individuals who qualify will have access to Codecademy Pro licenses. Resources for additional careers in tech, healthcare, media, industrial and manufacturing will be added in the weeks to come.

Interested individuals can visit the portal at nyc.gov/careerdiscovery to learn more.

"In recent months, we have been very focused on how we can make our curriculum more accessible to people nationwide, especially those in need of new career opportunities," said Nimit Maru, co-founder and co-CEO of Fullstack Academy. "The SBS portal will serve as an excellent tool that introduces thousands of New Yorkers to potential career paths. It is an initiative that we are proud to be part of as it aligns with our goals of filling the tech skills gap and supporting economic recovery."

"Codecademy is built in New York and we're thrilled to be able to give back to the community that's helped us become the company we are today. Amidst the current economic turmoil, it's critical for us all to do our part to help build skills and employability for the 21st century so we can come back from this pandemic stronger than before. Through the partnership with Career Discovery NYC, we'll be able to help prepare residents for the jobs of the future, empowering them to gain control over their circumstances and ultimately transition into a career they love. We're also particularly excited the portal's first career discovery and training is on web development because there's a high demand for workers with this technical skill set and employment in the field is projected to grow 13 percent from 2018 to 2028, which is much faster than the national average," said Zach Sims, CEO and Co-Founder of Codecademy.

About Fullstack Academy
Before Fullstack Academy came to life in 2012, co-founders and co-CEOs David Yang and Nimit Maru worked as software engineers and engineering leaders at startups and large and mid-size companies. Over time, they realized that providing a high-quality, immersive coding education at an accelerated pace was not only impactful but also scalable. Fullstack Academy was founded with the idea that coding and software development have the power to positively influence communities and economies. Since then, Fullstack has expanded to Chicago and established the Grace Hopper Program, the first coding bootcamp in NYC to offer deferred tuition and an inclusive and supportive community for women+-identifying applicants. A fast-growing company, Fullstack has developed partnerships with leading universities around the country and has added cybersecurity to its list of specialty bootcamp offerings. Graduates have gone on to work at Google, Facebook, Amazon, various Fortune 100 firms, and countless startups. More details can be found at fullstackacademy.com or at gracehopper.com. Fullstack Academy is part of the Zovio (Nasdaq: ZVO) network.

About Codecademy
Since 2011, Codecademy has empowered over 45 million people in 190 countries to unlock their personal and professional potential through coding. To date, Codecademy has raised $42.5 million to make its vision of providing an accessible, flexible, and engaging online education a reality. Codecademy makes it easy for users to start learning instantly with free lessons. Codecademy Pro, a $20-$40/month paid membership with over 100,000 subscribers, allows users to access Codecademy's complete library of content. It also unlocks additional features, like Skill Paths and Career Paths that guide a user through multiple courses until they reach a long-term goal. The company, which is headquartered in NYC, is backed by top-tier investors like Naspers, Union Square Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Index Ventures, and Y Combinator. Codecademy has also partnered with governments like The White House, the UK, Brazil, Argentina, and others, and has worked with companies like Google and Amazon to create curriculum. Learn more at www.codecademy.com.

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 vibrant neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information, visit nyc.gov/sbs, call 311, and follow us on Facebook,  Twitter, and Instagram.