Microsoft invests in local programs that benefit people of all ages. In Cheyenne, our collaborations are organized by our focus areas of Skills for Jobs, Enabling Sustainability, and Empowering Communities.
The following program list contains a sample of the investments Microsoft makes on an annual basis.
Skills for Jobs
Microsoft believes everyone should have access to the skills, technology, and opportunity they need to succeed in a changing economy.
Laramie County Community College (LCCC) transforms its students’ lives through the power of inspired learning.
- Datacenter Academy Student Scholarships funds will replenish the Microsoft Datacenter Academy scholarship fund at LCCC, which provides under-represented demographics of students with access to education in the field of IT Operations. The scholarship covers books, tuition, and course fees for the courses within the Datacenter Specialist Credit Diploma for qualified students, based on demographic data provided by Microsoft.
- Scholarships
- Telecommunications Lab aims to provide hands-on training in the fields of copper and fiber optic network infrastructure delivery. The lab will be outfitted to meet BICSI standards.
- Veteran Recruitment and Retention recognizes the importance of illuminating a pathway to education for military and military-associated students. Given the number of military installations and personnel located in this community, LCCC is committed to serving this population, providing pathways to military-associated students, and increasing overall opportunities for students.
Wyoming Womens Business Center (WWBC) empowers entrepreneurs, especially women, through counseling, training, and micro-finance programs to start, expand, and sustain small businesses in the state of Wyoming.
- Gener8tor Skills Accelerator will provide free virtual skills-training programs to participants, offering concierge career coaching, training, and job placement assistance to individuals who are unemployed or do not make enough money to reasonably support themselves or their families.
Boys and Girls Club of Cheyenne Wyoming inspires and enables all youth to reach their full potential, with programs in the three core areas of Healthy Lifestyles, Character & Citizenship, and Academic Success. With a focus on expanding technology resources, the Club aims to increase digital literacy for youth across Laramie County by providing access to fun, engaging digital programming. The Club strives to equip members with the knowledge and skills to utilize technology in a real-world setting, allowing them to effectively problem solve and plan for their future success.
- Boys and Girls Club Workforce Readiness Program provides high-quality, accessible afterschool and summer programming for all Laramie County youth ages 6–18. The Club’s mission is to inspire and enable all youth, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. With support from Microsoft, the Club will purchase new technology equipment, including laptops, VR stations, drawing pads, and software, helping to expand digital literacy and promote careers in STEAM and IT.
Greater Cheyenne Foundation makes the Greater Cheyenne area a more prosperous and quality community. The Chamber seeks to do so through the following areas: Exceptional Economic Development, Transformative Community Development, Innovative Talent Development, and Relentless Advocacy and Action.
- Gener8tor Skills Accelerator supports learners in obtaining high-quality employment in diverse, professional workplaces where the skills they gain from the accelerator can be applied. In alignment with Microsoft, gener8tor Skills focuses on building technical skills to help under- and unemployed individuals in the category of hidden talent such as people of color, women, veterans, and others. The accelerator helps them secure meaningful employment across a variety of sectors in professional, technical, and administrative services roles. The accelerator increases access to technology and supports local employers in their hiring needs as well as their ability to adapt to digital transformation as learners are prepared for digitally-enabled jobs at these companies.
Enabling sustainability
Climate change requires swift, collective action and technological innovation. We are committed to meeting our own goals while helping communities to do the same.
American Forests creates healthy and resilient forests, from cities to large natural landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water, and wildlife. It advances its mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. American Forests envisions a world in which the significant environmental, societal, and economic benefits of forests are fully realized and equitably available to all people.
- Community Environmental Education and Restoration funds Rooted in Cheyenne, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to re-establish a long-term tree planting program in the city to help support a more
Discover Cheyenne supports the tourism industry in Laramie County and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
- Belvoir Ranch Trailhead project will assist in creating usable public recreational assets, providing long-reaching economic impact to the community.
Friends of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens advocates for and supports the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, it forms the private side of a public-private partnership with the City of Cheyenne through its public botanic gardens. It supports the volunteer program at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, assists with staff professional development, and raises funds for special projects and capital construction.
- High Plains Arboretum Community Amenity Improvement partners with multiple stakeholders (City of Cheyenne, Laramie County, US Department of Agriculture, Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, and Forward Greater Cheyenne) to help the High Plains Arboretum reach its potential as an improved community amenity. The project addresses three of the eight strategic areas of the Forward Greater Cheyenne Plan: 1) improving the greenway, 2) beautification, and 3) community pride.
Empowering communities
Microsoft is committed to strengthening communities and empowering the organizations that help them thrive. Whether affected by a recent emergency or decades of challenges, we use data, technology, and strategic investments to restore and support them for future generations.
COMEA provides a safe, secure, and temporary shelter to men, women, and children who are homeless. COMEA collaborates with community programs and resources to create opportunities for independent living.
- COMEA House and Resource Center has recently expanded to a third property. Funds will be used to fix connectivity of security cameras, WiFi network, and phone system to help ease of access for staff and residents.
ChangeX International helps to create thriving communities everywhere by democratizing change, ensuring proven innovations and finance are accessible to everyone, everywhere. ChangeX is a community engagement platform that, with Microsoft’s support, has funded more than 500 groups in communities across Europe and the United States since 2015. Funds are repeated often throughout the years.
- ChangeX Cheyenne allows Microsoft to engage with diverse and hard-to-reach groups, ensuring community funds are widely accessible particularly for lower-income and communities of color, with a simple, easy-to-use platform.
Unaccompanied Students Initiative ensures all students graduate high school with their peers by building a continuum of care. It provides a safe and stable home setting for unaccompanied students by getting them off the streets, as well as resources to help the students resolve issues and stay in school. The Initiative promotes high school graduation and improved wage-earning abilities, and helps make the student a productive member of the community.
- Housing Expansion provides safe, stable housing and develops support systems for high school students ages 16 to 20 experiencing homelessness.