SC Codes program to expand

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The S.C. Department of Commerce’s Office of Innovation and Greenville-based nonprofit Build Carolina plan to expand SC Codes, a statewide program providing free coding education to Palmetto State residents.

SC Codes was announced in 2018 and officially launched earlier this year. The program is state-funded, and any resident with access to a computer and internet can take courses; beginner and advanced curricula are available.

Residents can log on to SC Codes at home or on public computers, such as at libraries or schools. Classroom-led training is also offered at 16 sites throughout the state.

More than 5,300 South Carolinians have registered on the SC Codes platform; they have completed 1,500 lessons.

The expansion of SC Codes will include growing the number of host sites and partners across the state, adding course content, increasing the number of participants, and exploring plans for certifications and apprenticeships.

“SC Codes is primed to level the playing field for our workforce by removing barriers and increasing access to high-quality coding education,” Lelia King, executive director of Build Carolina, said in a news release. “Our expanded partnership with the S.C. Department of Commerce’s Office of Innovation will allow us to build upon the great work that has already begun.”

South Carolina’s tech sector includes more than 7,400 tech businesses and contributes $12.6 billion to the state economy, according to an analysis by CompTIA.

“The continued development of the state’s digital workforce is critical to ensuring future economic prosperity,” Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said in the release. “SC Codes increases digital literacy skills across the state’s entire workforce, allowing South Carolinians to obtain higher-paying jobs and strengthening the economy.”