IgnITe Hub Grand Opening in Rockville Spotlights County's Newest Center for Innovation and Cutting-Edge Technology

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Councilmember Craig Rice, Montgomery College President Jermaine F. Williams, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Monifa B. McKnight and representatives from Apple, Inc. were among those recently joining MCPS students, business leaders and community members to celebrate the grand opening of the ignITe Hub at Montgomery College’s Rockville campus.

The brand-new facility provides a physical and virtual space where students, lifelong learners, faculty, local business owners and community members can grow their technology and coding skills, learn to create apps, collaborate to solve problems and create or improve existing products and services.

The ignITe Hub was made possible through a partnership with Montgomery County Government, Montgomery College, MCPS, the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) and Apple.

“According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the IT field is set to grow by 13 percent from 2020 to 2030—higher than the average for all occupations,” said County Executive Elrich. “IgnITe Hub is an innovative and important project that will engage students of all ages to improve their skills, become career-ready and help local nonprofits and small businesses with application development support. This project is a win for our economy, educational system, local entrepreneurs, nonprofits and any of our other residents who want to expand their knowledge and expertise in the IT fields.”

The innovative new space features learning pods, state-of-the-art Apple technology and instructional classes on technology skills such as app coding and design.

“I am proud of the dedication and hard work of the ignITe Hub’s partners. This grand opening would not have been possible without a shared vision for a more technologically advanced workforce,” Councilmember Rice said. “The community will greatly benefit from the wealth of resources offered by our leaders in education and workforce development. The ignITe Hub is critical to creating a strong talent pipeline into the tech industry and effectively supporting entrepreneurship. The Hub welcomes all County residents who seek to advance their career and educational aspirations.”

The ignITe Hub, powered by Montgomery Can Code, will equip community members with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the 21st Century, empowering the next generation of IT professionals.

“Montgomery College is thrilled to be a part of this unique workforce and economic development partnership,” Dr. Williams said. “Creating an equitable, inclusive, tech-empowered Montgomery County is a shared goal and we are excited to be a part of that effort. Serving the needs of business start-ups, as well as residents seeking in-demand skills and good jobs, the ignITe Hub will extend the work of Montgomery Can Code to the entire County. The College is proud to be a workforce anchor and catalyst for innovation in our community.”

The grand opening event featured a tour of the new space and live coding demonstrations by MCPS middle and high school students, who showcased apps they developed through the Montgomery Can Code program.

“What a fantastic and innovative new technology space that will support students in Montgomery County,” said Dr. McKnight. “Equipped with new and innovative tools and programs, this valuable community asset will inspire our youth that will benefit not only their learning, but the community in the future. It is through these types of opportunities that we can truly prepare them to thrive.”

Apple is an enthusiastic partner in the Hub.

“Apple believes education can be a powerful force for equity, and technology can inspire creativity and community building for all learners,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Education and Enterprise Marketing. “This is an exciting step for the Montgomery Can Code partnership that will bring coding and app development to the broader community. We can’t wait to see the incredible things that will be developed at the ignITe innovation hub in Montgomery County.”

More information on the services and opportunities available at the ignITe Hub can be found at ignitehubmc.com/.

Watch the grand opening video here.