Connecticut Gov. Lamont working with Amazon to fill jobs for next generation of tech talent

The state unveiled a new partnership with Amazon Monday to help train more than 2,000 badly needed workers for computer and cloud jobs for high-tech companies like Infosys.

Classes will be held at four community colleges to start this fall, and then the program will then expand to all 12 community colleges statewide. About 40,000 cloud jobs have been advertised in Connecticut over the past year, and many are going unfilled at the moment, said Gov. Ned Lamont. The jobs can pay more than $100,000 per year.

The partnership of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, the state’s Office of Workforce Strategy, and Amazon Web Services, known as AWS, is designed to train workers through a curriculum designed by Amazon.

“We have tens of thousands of jobs out there - many in the cloud-based, IT, coding world - that we’re having a hard time filling,” Lamont said while unveiling the program at Gateway Community College in New Haven. “I, as the governor, want to do everything I can to make sure that every business in this state knows they can grow and expand with a well-trained workforce right here in the state of Connecticut.’'

Lamont added, “I can virtually guarantee you that if you get this AWS certification, you’re going to have a job. Infosys is standing right by. Amazon Web Services has dozens of major customers right here in the state and all over the region - all looking for people with just this certification.’'

The classes will cost $795 for five to seven weeks of instruction, but financial aid is available for those with need. Lamont said that he would seek to provide day care - using federal funds - for workers with children who need to go back to school to obtain additional skills.

“We’re one of the first states in the country to do this collaboration,’' Lamont told reporters in New Haven.

Classes will be held at four community colleges to start this fall, including Manchester, Three Rivers in Norwich and Asnuntuck in Enfield. The program will then expand to all 12 community colleges statewide.

“We know that a workforce rich in tech talent is one of the keys to Connecticut’s future economic success,” Lamont said. “This initiative is an important step toward ensuring our residents are prepared for high-tech, 21st century jobs, and that our employers have access to the skilled employees necessary to compete and thrive.”

Besides computer coding, the jobs in demand involve software development, computer systems support, and cloud architecture.

Josh Geballe, the state’s chief operating officer, said he was running a small, software start-up company in 2007 that used Amazon Web Services. At the time, he said, very few people had ever heard of it. But the company has pioneered the market and has grown ever since.

“We’re proud to be a pillar of the state’s effort to nurture tech talent,’' said Terrence Cheng, president of Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. “Skilled, high-tech careers are Connecticut’s future.’'

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com