Governor Abbott Delivers Remarks At Microsoft TechSpark Event In El Paso
Governor Greg Abbott today delivered remarks at the Microsoft TechSpark event in El Paso, Texas. The Governor was joined at the event by Microsoft President Brad Smith, as well as government, community, and business leaders from El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. Governor Abbott spoke on the future of Texas' economy and the importance of preparing the workforce for advancements in technology and thanked Microsoft for investing in the El Paso region through the TechSpark program.
"At a time where rapid innovation and technological advancement are the new norm, it is crucial that businesses and the workforce adapt to a changing landscape," said Governor Abbott. "I am proud of the progress we are making in Texas to achieve this goal, and am grateful to Microsoft TechSpark for their work here in El Paso. Together, we will continue to modernize our economy, facilitate greater trade between Texas and Mexico, and ensure greater prosperity in this region and across the entire state of Texas."
“El Paso and Ciudad Juarez converge in a cross-border flow of ideas, ambition, and aspirations that have shaped the region for centuries,” said Microsoft President Brad Smith. “This forward-looking spirit and promise is what attracted us to the region in 2017 when we launched Microsoft TechSpark in El Paso to create new economic opportunities and help digitally transform established industries with modern software and cloud services. It’s also why today we are announcing that we are expanding the TechSpark El Paso program to include Ciudad Juarez and investing in the T-Hub Bridge Accelerator.”
Microsoft TechSpark is a civic program designed to foster greater economic opportunity and job creation in rural and smaller metropolitan communities. By partnering closely with local organizations and nonprofits, Microsoft TechSpark seeks to increase access to digital skills and computer science education, help local business thrive through digital transformation, and increase access to broadband in rural communities.
Since expanding their presence to El Paso in 2018, TechSpark has helped establish the Technology Education and Literacy Schools program in 19 El Paso schools, and has partnered with the Texas Workforce Commission, the state of Texas, and Techntonic to train military spouses in software development. TechSpark also helped start a bi-national innovation program called The Bridge Accelerator, which helps local companies grow their capacity to supply large, multinational manufacturers in the region.