FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2019
Contact: Kay Foley
GROW WITH GOOGLE COMING TO VERMONT
Google’s Economic Opportunity Initiative Aims to Foster Skilled Workforce of the Future in Vermont
VERMONT -- Today, Google announced that it is coming to cities in Vermont as part of the tech
company’s Grow with Google initiative to help create economic opportunity in communities across the United States. Google will kickstart this work locally by hosting free, one-day events in two libraries to help job seekers, small business owners, students, educators and entrepreneurs improve their digital skills.
Vermont tour dates, cities and locations include:
April 23 in Burlington, Fletcher Free Library
- 10:30AM-5:30PM
- 235 College St., Burlington, VT 05401
April 25 in Rutland, Rutland Free Library
- 10:30AM-5:30PM
- 10 Court St., Rutland, VT 05701
“Vermont is a center for innovation, entrepreneurship and manufacturing. By bringing the ‘Grow with Google’ tour to the state, we are making a commitment to help develop a skilled workforce that can meet the needs of Vermont’s growing economy,” said Erica Swanson, Google’s Head of Community Engagement.
In recognition that libraries are increasingly centers for digital skills learning, Grow with Google plans visit libraries in every state, partnering with them to deliver digital skills trainings directly to jobseekers and small businesses in their community. We will also train library staff and nonprofit leaders on a range of Grow with Google’s free tools and curriculum they can use on a daily basis.
Google staff will lead hands-on workshops about online marketing for small businesses, search engine optimization, email basics and coding. Attendees can also sign up for one-on-one training with Google staff, and tour demo booths to learn more about Google’s free products for learners and small businesses. Attendees are welcome to drop in for a few sessions or stay all day.
Google is partnering with community organizations like Center for Women & Enterprise Vermont,
Community College of Vermont, Fletcher Free Library, Rutland Free Library, Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce, Rutland Regional Workforce Investment Board, The Generator, and Vermont Adult Learning. Following the Grow with Google event, Google will explore ongoing partnership opportunities with area organizations to help with job training and developing digital skills.
“The Fletcher Free Library has a long history of supporting community members in improving their
economic success through job assistance and technology training,” said Mary Danko, Director of the Fletcher Free Library. “We are thrilled to partner with Google and to host a Grow with Google day at the library with fabulous workshops and one-on-one consulting with Google staff. Our mission is to inform, enrich and nurture a community of lifelong learners. Grow with Google promises to be an exciting event that aligns with our mission and gives job seekers, entrepreneurs and small business owners a wonderful day of digital skills training that is sure to spark innovation and growth.”
“Grow with Google is a perfect fit with Rutland Free Library's mission to bring people, information and ideas together,”” said Randal Smathers, Director of the Rutland Free Library. “In today's connected world, digital skills are a critical and growing set of tools. Having a company with the expertise and reach of Google in our community to help small businesses and jobseekers develop those skills is a tremendous opportunity for Rutland and all of southern Vermont.”
“We are delighted to partner with Google and the other partners on this exciting initiative. It’s great to see Google investing in local communities to provide these relevant, important services,” said Gwen Pokalo, Director of the Center for Women & Enterprise Vermont. “Small business owners, startups, and job seekers alike are presented with an excellent opportunity to gain further digital skills support through the Grow with Google event.”
“As a statewide leader in delivering education and training opportunities to Vermonters, Community College of Vermont is thrilled to partner with Grow with Google to help strengthen the digital skills of our students,” said Christopher Ettori, Assistant Director of CCV-Rutland. “We share Google’s commitment to developing our workforce in order to help strengthen our communities.”
Google launched Grow with Google in October of 2017. The American initiative draws on Google’s 20-year history of building products, platforms, and services that help people and businesses grow. Through this initiative, Google aims to help everyone across America – those who make up the workforce of today and the those who will drive the workforce of tomorrow – access the best of Google’s training and tools to grow their skills, careers, and businesses.
Specifically, Grow with Google aims to help address the skills gap by preparing Americans for middle-skill jobs, positions that require some skills but not four year degrees. According to the National Middle Skills Initiative, middle skills jobs account to 49% of Vermont’s labor force. A recent study by Burning Glass and Capital One found that more than 8 in 10 middle-skill jobs (82%) require digital skills. Overall, middle-skill jobs average $20 per hour.
In their 2017 Economic Impact Report, Google announced that 10,000 businesses in Vermont generated $1.89 billion in economic activity by using Google’s search and advertising tools. The full report details Google’s economic impact state-by-state, and features the stories of businesses fueling that growth, creating job opportunities, and transforming their communities.
According to the American Library Association, nearly three-quarters of public libraries assist their patrons with job applications and interviewing skills, 90% help their patrons learn basic digital skills, and just under half provide access and assistance to entrepreneurs looking to start a business of their own.
To learn more about the free event and to register, visit g.co/GrowVermont . Space will be limited; so please register in advance.
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