‘Accelerate’ initiative will help the city upskill residents and create new economic opportunities
Elly Yates-Roberts |
The city of Houston, Texas, has expanded its digital alliance with Microsoft to drive new big data, artificial intelligence and digital economy opportunities. The city is one of the latest to take part in Microsoft’s Accelerate initiative which Microsoft says was “designed to address economic recovery through skilling both underserved communities and re-skilling the many Americans impacted by Covid-19”.
The collaboration aims to close equity and digital skills gaps, and prepare residents for the 21st century workplace.
“More than two years ago, I announced our first transformative alliance with Microsoft – the first of its kind in the United States,” said Sylvester Turner, mayor of Houston. “Today, I am pleased to say we are taking another leap toward strengthening Houston’s global standing as a centre for innovation and technology.”
Other partners supporting the alliance include The Ion, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Kino-Eye Center, Upskill Houston, University of Houston College of Technology and Space Center Houston.
“Microsoft launched the Accelerate programme at a time when closing the digital divide has never been more important,” said Kate Johnson, president of Microsoft US. “We’re thrilled to be joining Mayor Turner and an impressive group of partners in this effort to expand access to in-demand digital skills – and close digital skills gaps widened by Covid-19 – through Accelerate: Houston.”
Learn more about Accelerate: Houston at news.microsoft.com.