What you need to know
- Apple announced a new Developer Academy coming to Detroit back in January.
- It will open later this year and serve to empower young Black entrepreneurs, creators, and coders.
- A new report says the academy will occupy the First National Building in the downtown area.
A new report states Apple's Detroit Developer Academy will be housed in the First National Building in the downtown area of the city.
From Crains:
The Apple Developer Academy is going into Dan Gilbert's 850,000-square-foot First National Building in downtown Detroit. The Apple Inc. and Michigan State University developer training hub will be located in Dan Gilbert's First National Building in downtown Detroit, Crain's has learned. A building permit application filed with the city in early April and obtained by Crain's on Friday morning identifies a project in the building at 660 Woodward Ave. as a "developers academy" and names Anthony Rhodes, a Michigan State University project manager, as a contact for the occupant. The permit says the project is on the second and third floors of the building and encompasses some 37,000 square feet.
Apple announced its first-ever US Developer Academy back in January, stating in a press release:
Later this year, Apple will open an Apple Developer Academy in Detroit — the first of its kind in the US. Detroit has a vibrant Black entrepreneur and developer community, with over 50,000 Black-owned businesses, according to US Census data. The academy is designed to empower young Black entrepreneurs, creators, and coders, helping them cultivate the skills necessary for jobs in the rapidly growing iOS app economy. Launched in collaboration with Michigan State University, Apple Developer Academy courses will be open to all learners across Detroit, regardless of their academic background or whether they have any previous coding experience.
The academy will offer a 30-day introductory program for learners considering a career in the app economy, as well as a 10-12 month program to help aspiring developers hone their skills.
The move is just one of a number of initiatives that make up Apple's $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative.
