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Google launches $1B workforce development effort focused on preparing US workers for jobs of the future

October 19, 2017
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Last week, Google announced the launch of several efforts as part of its Grow with Google initiative – a five-year $1-billion plus plan to invest in nonprofits that specialize in training workers and helping new businesses get off the ground. Through this new plan, Google indicated it will work to close the world’s education and opportunity gaps. During the Grow with Google launch event in Pittsburgh, Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai announced several new efforts including: 

  • $10 million to Goodwill to launch Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator to prepare the American workforce for high-tech jobs
  • 50,000 Google Developer Scholarship Challenge to help individuals receive training as mobile or web developers through Udacity’s online education platform;
  • 5,000 full nanodegree scholarship to one of Google’s four Nanodegree programs in Android or web development hosted by Coursera – another online education platform; 
  • 2,600 scholarships for a 12-month IT Professional Support Certificate on Coursera that also connects graduates to companies like Google, PNC Bank, L’Oreal and others; and, 
  • The Grow with Google national tour aimed at bringing training and career advice by Google employees directly to an estimated 1.2 million U.S. workers in towns and cities across the country.

The Grow with Google online hub will provide job seekers, teachers, local business owners, and developers with free access to training and professional certificates including:

  • Applied Digital Skills – an online platform to teach the basics of working with tech, from email to spreadsheets; and,
  • 20,000 vouchers for G Suite certification – a tool that verifies proficiency in essential workplace tools. 
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