Kansas Has a Pipeline Challenge, Not Just a Hiring Challenge
Across Kansas, technology and digitally enabled roles are growing faster than the overall labor market — from software and data roles to IT support and advanced manufacturing. Yet employers in nearly every sector report difficulty filling these positions.
12%
of Kansas households lack broadband access
1 in 20
households have no computer or device at home
~30.9%
of low-income households lack broadband
Rural
counties lag even further behind
This is not just a connectivity issue. It is a talent issue — and it hits local employers directly.
Most Employers Focus on What Happens After Someone Shows Up
Traditional employer investments are important — but they all assume one critical thing: that people are already connected, confident, and ready to step into your pipeline.
Internships & Apprenticeships
On-the-Job Training & Mentorship
Tuition Reimbursement & Upskilling
Community College Partnerships
Without broadband, a device, and early exposure to tech careers, many Kansans never explore online career information, try basic coding or digital tools, or learn how their skills translate into tech roles. By the time your job is advertised — they’re already out of the running.
That ‘pre-pipeline’ gap is exactly where ADOPT 2.0 operates.
Fixing the Front End of the Pipeline
The ADOPT 2.0 Technology Readiness Program — implemented by SnapIT Solutions through the SPRNT® Lab and funded by the Kansas Office of Broadband Development — addresses the access and readiness gaps that traditional training alone cannot solve.
Access
- Loaner laptop access for 4–6 weeks
- Structured window to complete assessments, projects, and explore learning without buying devices up front
Early Exposure
- Guided technology and career assessments
- Introductory web development module with a tangible first project
Readiness & Pathways
- Personalized career readiness reports tied to industry-aligned tech pathways
- Clear next steps: certificate, bootcamp, apprenticeship, or entry-level role
The program aims to support approximately 750 Kansans, with priority on rural and remote communities where digital disparities are most acute.
ADOPT 2.0 Doesn't Replace Your Programs — It Supercharges Them
Most local employers already invest in internships, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and community college partnerships. ADOPT 2.0 builds on all of it.
Better Prepared Applicants
Graduates arrive with basic digital confidence, a realistic sense of their strengths, and at least one tangible project they can discuss in interviews — so your programs can move quickly into substantive work.
A Wider & More Diverse Talent Pool
ADOPT 2.0 explicitly targets communities that historically lack broadband and devices — surfacing candidates your traditional channels rarely reach, particularly in rural areas and lower-income neighborhoods.
Stronger Alignment with Education Partners
Connect your existing internships, apprenticeships, and early-career roles to the ADOPT pipeline — without designing a new program from scratch.
Clear Business Reasons to Engage with ADOPT 2.0
Reduced Risk & Cost of Early-Career Hiring
ADOPT shifts early screening and readiness work upstream. Participants have already demonstrated commitment and the ability to complete structured learning — so you’re interviewing candidates who’ve already passed a readiness bar.
Stronger Retention & Engagement
Early exposure, mentorship, and work-based learning increase job satisfaction and retention. Candidates who discover tech through an accessible, supportive program are more likely to stay and grow with your organization.
Tangible Community & ESG Impact
Demonstrate measurable impact on digital access and economic mobility. Align with statewide digital equity strategies and tell a credible story to customers, boards, and stakeholders.
You Don't Need a Large HR Team or Big Budget to Get Started
Here are concrete things employers of all sizes can do to connect with the ADOPT 2.0 pipeline:
Host Job Shadow Days or Site Visits
Invite small cohorts of ADOPT participants to observe your tech, data, or IT teams for a half or full day.
Offer Micro-Internships or Project Sprints
Design 2–4 week scoped projects for emerging talent: testing, content updates, documentation, or simple data work.
Provide Mentors & Speakers
Have team members join virtual or in-person panels, Q&A sessions, or office hours with ADOPT participants.
Make "Interview-Ready" Commitments
Commit to interviewing a set number of ADOPT completers each year for entry-level, apprenticeship, or internship roles.
Co-Design Pathways
Work with SnapIT and education partners to align ADOPT’s readiness reports and projects with the skills you need most.
These steps are additive to what you’re already doing — not replacements.
The Technology Talent Shortage Won't Be Fixed by Training Providers Alone
We’re ready to meet people where they are — and help them grow into the roles we need.
If you’re an employer in Kansas — from startups and tech firms to hospitals, banks, manufacturers, and public agencies — and you’re interested in:
Strengthening your early-career tech pipeline
Diversifying who gets a chance at your entry-level roles
Demonstrating authentic commitment to local communities
…then ADOPT 2.0 is an ideal partner. Connect your existing internships, apprenticeships, and hiring programs to a stronger, more inclusive front end of the talent pipeline.
The Next Generation of Tech Talent Already Lives in Our Towns
They attend our schools and work in our neighborhoods. Together, we can build the pathways that allow that talent to emerge — and ensure Kansas employers are ready to welcome them.
Comment, reach out through SPRNT® Lab, or contact SnapIT Solutions to explore how your existing programs can be enhanced by a stronger, more inclusive front end of the talent pipeline.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.sprnt-lab.com/adopt
