The Indiana Office of Technology is launching a paid job training program to create skilled technology workers. That makes it the first state agency to deliver a certified “earn and learn” program.

Participants will train in the agency for at least a year. They’ll learn to understand data sources and use them to create visualizations that will inform policymakers. The program will start with just two trainees in January but hopes to grow to as many as 10 workers per cohort in coming years.

Joseph Cudby is the State of Indiana’s chief technology officer. He says with extra skilled workers at the agency, it will be able to get more use from software it already has.

“It really is this idea of how do we get folks from in and around the state, on board, to help the state make better use of our existing capabilities,” he says.

He says the program will also address the growing need for skilled tech workers in the state and, even if the participants don’t stay with a state agency, he’d consider it a success as long as they stay in Indiana.

Contact Justin at jhicks@wvpe.org or follow him on Twitter at @Hicks_JustinM.