D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray on Wednesday announced a city partnership with Microsoft in which the tech giant will train District residents and educate students in science and technology.
Called D.C. Digital Alliance, the program will launch in April with a training program at the Howard University Middle School.
Gray said the deal was not an indicator that Microsoft would agree to open an Innovation Center on the old St. Elizabeth’s Hospital campus. The Washington Examiner reported in December that the city was in talks with the company regarding the redevelopment. Gray said Wednesday that “I don’t think they would make this kind of investment in the District of Columbia if they’re not looking to create opportunities for our people to be hired.”
The program includes a subset called DigiGirlz days where high school girls will learn from women in the tech industry. Another similar subset will be created for minority students.
At Wednesday’s announcemment, neither Gray nor Microsoft would give an estimate on how much the company is spending on the program. Gray said the agreement does not require the District to purchase Microsoft equipment.
