YEP! Grant Award

CodeBloom is proud to be a recipient of the YEP! (Youth Engagement Programming) grant, awarded by the Howard County Government Office of the County Executive.

This recognition affirms what we have always believed: that young people in our communities deserve free, accessible, and meaningful opportunities to grow — and that organizations like CodeBloom are positioned to make that happen.

About the YEP! Grant

The YEP! grant program is a Howard County Government initiative designed to promote youth activities and engagement through free, accessible, and supportive programming developed by nonprofit and community organizations. It provides resources to organizations working to create meaningful experiences for young people outside of traditional school hours.

Social-Emotional Learning

YEP! prioritizes programs that support the social, emotional, and mental well-being of young people — building the whole person, not just academic skills.

Community Connection

The grant fosters partnerships between youth, families, mentors, and community organizations, building networks of support that extend well beyond any single program.

Free & Accessible

A core principle of YEP! is that cost should never be a barrier. Funded programs are free to participants, ensuring every young person has an equal opportunity to engage and thrive.

Youth Across All Ages

YEP! serves young people from elementary school through young adulthood, recognizing that engagement and support are needed at every stage of a young person's journey.

To learn more about the YEP! grant program directly, visit the Howard County Government YEP! page.

How This Supports Our Mission

CodeBloom and the YEP! grant share a deep alignment in values. Our mission — to democratize access to tech education for underserved and underrepresented communities — maps directly onto YEP!'s commitment to free, accessible, community-driven programming for youth.

Through this grant, we are able to continue and expand the work that defines CodeBloom:

  • Delivering free coding education to young people who might otherwise never have access to it
  • Building community and mentorship around technology, so students never feel like they're navigating the tech world alone
  • Showing young people that a career in tech is for them, regardless of their background, zip code, or resources
  • Supporting social-emotional growth through collaborative, play-based learning that builds confidence alongside technical skills

We are grateful to Howard County for investing in organizations that believe every young person deserves a seat at the table — and for helping us make that belief a reality.

Thank You, Howard County

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Howard County Government Office of the County Executive for this award. Your commitment to youth engagement and community-driven programming makes a real difference — and we are honored to carry that mission forward through CodeBloom.

This grant is more than funding. It is a vote of confidence in our community, our students, and the future we are building together.

Ways to Get Involved

Join the movement — whether you want to bring a program to your community, sponsor a course, or simply stay in the loop. Select an option below.