2017 is already off to an exciting start. In December, we wrapped up our first Grand Rapids .NET(C#) Bootcamp and now our team is gearing up for our second daytime .NET(C#) Bootcamp. The bootcamp starts on March 20, with final applications due February 24. (For those who apply by February 16, you’ll save $1,000).
As we continue expanding our tech offerings throughout West Michigan, we’re thrilled to be meeting some great thought leaders and collaborating with the growing tech community.
For our second Grand Rapids cohort, we excited to be calling Start Garden our home. This beautiful space is where our Grand Rapids Campus Director, John Rumery, is working, and we’ll continue to add staff at this location over the next few weeks. (Check it out, we’re hiring!) Additionally, students of our upcoming cohort will get to enjoy everything Start Garden has to offer, including a great downtown location, common working areas and an awesome classroom. Start Garden has create
d a beautifully collaborative working environment, and we’re lucky to have their support as we prepare for our next class.
“Compared to something like a four-year degree program in computer science, we see Grand Circus as rapidly expanding the available talent in the area,” said Paul Moore, Communication Director at Start Garden. “More importantly, it lowers the barrier for women and minorities whom may have desired a career in coding, but may have struggled for one reason or another to make a multi-year degree fit within the cultural and financial realities of their lives.
What have we been up to thus far?
Starting a career in tech can be scary. We get it. Our team has helped hundreds of individuals make the transition into this industry, and it’s important that everyone has the opportunity to get acquainted with what it takes to be a programer.
To lessen this fear and help folks learn the basics of coding, we’ve hosted five Free Intro to Coding Workshops throughout West Michigan. Our gracious hosts at locations like Blue35, Varnum Law and Spectrum Health have helped us introduce more than 100 individuals to the basics of coding. We’re looking forward to hosting additional workshops and community events.
We’ve also had the privilege of attending some great community events, and we’re excited to be a part of Grand Rapids great, growing tech community. As we continue to meet so many of our new neighbors, we know that listening to those already working in the industry is very important for our long-term success.
We’ve established a number of blossoming relationships with companies and organizations in the Grand Rapids area including company visits from Blue Medora, Springthrough and RecruIT. Many of these companies are already supporting our staff and alumni as we work to increase the tech talent pool.
“Grand Circus fills a niche by generating a new pool of people looking for jobs, many of whom already have the interpersonal skills we’re looking for,” said Rick Pocklington, Principle Software Developer from Blue Medora. “We’re excited to partner with Grand Circus to find more talented professionals moving into the software industry. We’ve been growing rapidly over the last several years, and expect to continue growing and hiring.”
What’s next for Grand Circus in Grand Rapids
Our team is dedicated to making careers in tech accessible to anyone. This mission will continue in West Michigan in a variety of ways.
Join us February 15 at LINC UP for our next Intro to Coding workshop. The three-hour workshop gives you an idea of what it takes to be a programmer through hands-on exercises. You’ll even get the chance to meet some of the Grand Circus team! (Hurry, seats are limited!)
If you’re already familiar with coding and ready to learn more about our programs, we have an event for that, too! We’re hosting a Bootcamp Info Session at Start Garden on February 13 (Update: Stay updated on our next Info Session in Grand Rapids!). This event will give you an overview of how a coding bootcamp can help you earn a career in tech. You’ll also have the opportunity to tour the space and 
ask any questions you have about the program. Curious about what a coding bootcamp is? This is the perfect opportunity to find out. The info session begins at 6pm.
We’ve been able to partner with a local community organization that is able to offer funding for full scholarship for select eligible students. Additionally, MichiganWorks! continues to offer potential funds for bootcamp students throughout the state of Michigan and in Grand Rapids specifically. Grand Circus also has awesome financing partners and diversity scholarships.
The Grand Circus Grand Rapids team is growing. We’ve hired our Campus Director, John Rumery. John Rumery is lifelong resident of West Michigan. His work experience includes international sales, higher education, journalism, event planning, startups and competitive barbecue. He’s been very involved in the Grand Rapids community, including Startup Weekends, collegiate pitch competitions and Odyssey of the Mind coach, and helps organize a variety of tech events in the city. He is also the host of a bi-monthly show on community radio, WYCE 88.1fm.
How can Your Business Become a Grand Circus Hiring Partner?
Grand Circus has current hiring partners in Detroit that have branches and locations in Grand Rapids including TEKSystems, Brooksource and many more. As we grow the tech talent throughout the state, we’re always looking for new businesses to hire our students.
Is your business located in the tri-state area? You can sign up to become a hiring partner for free by checking out this page on our website. Grand Circus is training hundreds of developers in 2017 in our Detroit and Grand Rapids campuses. Hire local, find great talent quick and grow your development team now!
Our Dedication to the Next Coding Bootcamp Cohort
We’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons during our first Grand Rapids bootcamp and are excited to take those insights to make this next cohort even better. We’ve taken our model from Detroit and adjusted it to meet the local needs in West Michigan.
Our .NET(C#) Bootcamp Graduates are excited about their journey as developers and are working hard to establish their new careers in the tech industry. We’re thrilled to be a part of their journey!
The team in Grand Rapids is also growing! We will be bringing on a daytime Program Manager and .NET Instructor over the next month.