Preparing for the Future: Montgomery County’s Commitment to Building an AI-Ready Workforce
With over 6,000 technology companies, Montgomery County is a global tech hub, with companies in every technology sector. With Artificial Intelligence reshaping every industry, from healthcare to advanced manufacturing, it is vital that Montgomery County continues to invest in training, upskilling, and other initiatives to ensure that local talent is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of employers in the future, particularly within high-growth industry sectors such as Satellite and Advanced Communications, Life Sciences, and Quantum Computing.
Last week, Montgomery College’s Pinkey Innovation Complex for Science and Technology, alongside Montgomery College, hosted students, educators, business leaders, and policymakers for the AI Skills Summit to discuss how artificial intelligence could reshape the economy and the future of education.
During her remarks at the Summit, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) Board Chair Elana Fine touched on how Montgomery County’s robust talent pipeline only strengthens the county’s position as a leader in AI. In addition to Montgomery County’s top-tier public school system—which benefits from programs like WorkSource Montgomery’s MocoCap, a program that provides dedicated Career Advising Coaches in every middle, high, and special school in the County allowing students to connect with real-world career opportunities—Montgomery County is home to some of the best higher-education institutions. From the Universities of Shady Grove to Montgomery College, students are able to develop the skills they need to prepare for opportunities in high-growth industries.
Additionally, Fine stressed the importance of collaboration between local employers, government, educational institutions, local partners, and government in ensuring that Montgomery County residents have access to high-quality, high-paying jobs in emerging fields like AI. “We recognize that we are uniquely positioned to connect students, educators, and local employers and ensure that our residents have access to high paying, high quality jobs in emerging fields like AI,” said Fine. “Through partnerships with Montgomery College, the Universities at Shady Grove, the Montgomery County Public School System, the Montgomery County Government and local partners, MCEDC remains committed to not only identifying opportunities for local businesses and talent to connect, but to dive deeper into understanding employers deeper needs so that we can collaborate on reskilling opportunities. As AI continues to evolve, Montgomery County will remain a regional and state leader by creating a workforce that’s ready to meet the current and future demands of employers.”
With notable companies like iLearningEngines, Hi Labs, and Xometry already headquartered here, Montgomery County is poised to continue to attract innovative companies doing groundbreaking work. Since January 2024, over $259 million in venture capital has been invested in local companies that are focused on AI & Machine Learning, tapping into the vast local talent of over 29,000 computer and mathematics professionals. Through collaborative partnerships between businesses, local government, and academia, the county has the capacity and infrastructure to meet the fast-growing demand for AI-driven skills.