CompTIA and Maher and Maher are building the program to create more opportunities for diverse talent. It is backed by the U.S. Department of Labor.

B-360, I am MENtality and The Be.org want to build capacity for both Black-led nonprofits, and funders.

HBCUvc expanded a paid internship program to the region, with local organizing from Squadra Ventures. The goal: bring diversity to venture capital.

"If we want to use entrepreneurship as a lever for economic development, then we need to make entrepreneurship accessible to all," said EcoMap's Pava LaPere.

Amazon's Career Choice program allows employees to gain certifications and transition into more lucrative career paths in areas such as IT. Such initiatives got a more urgent focus in the pandemic.

The college is working with Elkridge-based NewWave to allow students to gain the software and data engineering experience necessary for jobs. Expanding the tech workforce won't only require skills training.

Seeking equity in tech hiring, The Allegis Group company says it is helping jobseekers gain skills, and seeing through to land jobs.

Ignite Capital, a $4 million fund offering "patient capital" for entrepreneurs, is designed to expand access at the earliest stages for women and people of color. It's already funded four local companies.

It helps bring the rec-to-tech model for maker and computer science education inside city government-run operations, and supports efforts to develop inclusive programming.

Investors from around the region are launching BLCK VC to grow community and programming for folks looking to break into investing.