Detroit Regional Chamber > Racial Justice & Economic Equity > Google Offers $100,000 in Digital Skills Training to Michigan Businesses

Google Offers $100,000 in Digital Skills Training to Michigan Businesses

May 4, 2022
Crain’s Detroit Business
Jay Davis
May 4, 2022

Google is offering up to $100,000 in workforce training to teach digital skills to businesses in Michigan.

Grow with Google, which offers career and IT certificates and live training through free workshops, is providing state businesses with scholarships for up to 500 Google Career Certificates, according to a Wednesday news release. The certificates, launched in 2018, are in the areas of data analytics, IT support, project management and UX design.

Google also announced the launch of a new career certificate in digital marketing and e-commerce for individuals and businesses to enhance their skills in critical digital tools, the release states. The certificate, designed by Google staffers with input from e-commerce companies, will train job hunters on how to find customers online, sell products and services, and do marketing and analytics. The certificate does not require a degree or experience and can be completed with three to six months of part-time study.

To connect graduates to jobs, the program offers access to a group of more than 150 employers, including Crate & Barrel, Deloitte, Infosys, Verizon, Walmart, Wayfair, and Google.

While most business leaders project digital commerce will be the main source of business growth over the next two years, nearly half of small businesses still lack the skills needed to use digital tools, Google said in the release.

Google implemented career certificates to support enhancing skills in high-demand fields. Available through online course provider Coursera, more than 70,000 people in the U.S. have graduated from the program. Seventy-five percent of graduates report a positive career impact, such as a new job, within six months of completing the program, Google said. Some 55% of graduates identify as Black, Latino, or Asian.

In February, Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced a $100 million fund to enable 20,000 Americans to access the Google Career Certificates with services such as professional coaching, interview preparation, job placement assistance, and living stipends. The fund is projected to drive more than $1 billion in aggregate wage gains, the release states.

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