Expanding Tech-Moms to Rural Utah: Bridging the Gap in Tech Access

Our Vision

At Tech-Moms, we believe that technology careers should be accessible to everyone—regardless of where they live. Our mission is to help individuals transition into tech jobs that provide better pay, career stability, and flexibility by providing training in coding, cybersecurity, data analytics, and project management. Until now, most of our impact has been concentrated along the Wasatch Front. With support from Microsoft and the State of Utah, we are now expanding our program into rural communities—and what an incredible journey it has been!

Why Rural Outreach Matters

Many women in rural areas work low-wage or part-time jobs or have taken career breaks for caregiving. Tech careers provide flexibility, opportunity, and growth —making them a game-changer for women and families. However, in rural Utah, access to employment opportunities remains limited, and community-specific barriers make career transitions even more challenging. Our mission is to bridge this gap by bringing affordable, accessible tech training to women across the state.

What We’re Learning

The challenges related to rural employment aren’t new, and thousands of organizations across the country are working to address these barriers. After engaging with 40+ leaders across 20 rural counties in Utah—including higher education institutions, libraries, chambers of commerce, and community organizations—we’ve gained valuable insights into what it takes to successfully expand workforce development programs like Tech-Moms. Key factors include improving accessibility, fostering community engagement, and adapting programs to meet local needs. Tech-Moms must address these challenges and adapt our program to ensure accessibility and impact.

Current challenges being addressed:

Limited Internet & Tech Infrastructure: Some counties lack broadband access, making online learning and remote work difficult. Ensuring connectivity is essential for Tech-Moms to effectively serve these communities.
Few Local Tech Employers: While many rural businesses hire locally, there is still a gap in recognizing the value of tech skills. Expanding partnerships with employers is critical to creating local job pathways for our graduates.
Childcare & Transportation Barriers: These are common hurdles for working women, and for Tech-Moms to be accessible, we must explore solutions such as flexible learning options, virtual support, and local partnerships to provide assistance.
Lack of Awareness: Many people from rural Utah aren’t aware that tech careers are an option for them or that training programs like Tech-Moms exist. Raising awareness through local outreach, community events, and employer engagement is key to ensuring they can access these opportunities.

How We’re Expanding

Despite these challenges, we are energized by the enthusiasm of rural communities, local leaders, businesses, and higher education institutions eager to collaborate and help bring Tech-Moms to their regions. Our ongoing efforts include:

✔ Running an online 9-week cohort to reach rural participants in Spring 2025 and launching our first in-person cohort outside the Wasatch Front (to be held in St. George) in the Fall of 2025.

✔ Connecting in-person with representatives in counties across the state to develop relationships and build trust in our organization. .

✔ Partnering with local businesses and organizations to connect women to job opportunities.

How You Can Help

We need local support to make this expansion a success!

Community Leaders: Help spread the word and connect women to opportunities.
Employers: Provide jobs, internships, or mentorship for graduates.
Sponsors: Seeking five companies to donate $5,000 each for childcare, scholarships, and program resources.