The Birmingham City Council Tuesday approved funding for computer coding “boot camps” at Lawson State Community College this summer.

The funding, which according to the resolution is not to exceed $85,000, will fund four weeks of four-day camps for Birmingham City School students, running from June 18 to July 19. Up to 100 students of the city’s school system — 50 middle schoolers and 50 high schoolers — will get to participate.

Lawson State President Dr. Perry Ward said that the program would be similar to Chicago’s Apple-sponsored “Everyone Can Code” initiative, which teaches city school students an easy-to-learn coding language called Swift which can be used in developing mobile applications.

“Coding is a unique skill,” Ward said. “We will be making students aware of the skills and knowledge needed to develop these apps.

“We could very possibly have a student here in Birmingham create a 99-cent app and become a $10 million entrepreneur,” he added.

Ward said that Apple CEO Tim Cook had stopped by Lawson State when he was in Alabama several months ago to look at the school’s coding program, which the college started in January. “He was very impressed with that,” Ward said.

District 7 Councilor Jay Roberson, whose district contains Lawson State, expressed strong excitement for the program. “I don’t know if this is resonating amongst our community like it should, but this is a very innovative opportunity for our youth,” he said.

The boot camps will take place on Lawson State’s campus. Anyone interested in signing up for the camps needs to go through the Birmingham school system, Ward said. There are plans, he said, to extend the program into the fall.

“This is not just a one-shot deal for the summer,” he said.