Today, Google announced that it will commit an additional $17 million in capital improvements and expansions in its offices in Detroit and Ann Arbor. Already, Google has over 600 employees across the state of Michigan. The news was announced during a Grow with Google workshop at the Taylor Community Library. Grow with Google, the tech company’s initiative to create economic opportunity for all Americans, is touring Michigan this week to share free training, tools, and expertise.
“We greatly value being in southeast Michigan; that’s why we’ve been here for over 13 years,” said Ruth Porat, Google’s Chief Financial Officer, who spoke at the event in Taylor. “Through Grow with Google, we’re also committed to helping people across the state get the skills they need to succeed in today’s increasingly digital workplace.”
Once the expansions are complete, Google’s office footprint will total more than 260,000 square feet across the state. In November of last year, Google opened its Detroit office at The District Detroit linked to Little Caesar’s Arena. After being located in downtown Ann Arbor since 2007, the latest Ann Arbor campus officially opened in 2017.
“This tremendous investment is yet another example of the business community’s faith that we can make Michigan a home for opportunity for generations to come,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer said. “We are proud of our relationship with Google, and their Grow with Google program will ensure that more people have a pathway to the skills they need for a high-paying career in our state.”
“I applaud Google for its expansion in Michigan. This move further cements our state as a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation,” said Senator Gary Peters. “I’m going to continue focusing on closing the skills gap by ensuring Michiganders have the tools and training to fill the jobs of the future.”
The Grow with Google event in Taylor is the first of three stops in Michigan; the tour will be in Grand Rapids and Jackson on Wednesday and Friday of this week. The initiative worked with local organizations to attract workshop attendees and promote the role of small businesses in southeast Michigan’s current and future economic success. Workshops focused on digital skills, coding, data analytics and improving online business presence. One-on-one coaching sessions also took place with personal instruction on Google Spreadsheets and other GSuite tools.
“Southeast Michigan is home to hard-working men and women. Google’s investment in our region and workers shows that innovation is happening right here and delivering benefits for our communities,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. “Events like Grow with Google, helped workers and small business with the right tools and training to succeed in an increasingly digital economy. We must work together to give Michigan workers the opportunity to grow and succeed in the 21st Century economy.”
The stops in Michigan are part of Grow with Google’s tour of the country in partnership with libraries in all 50 states. By hosting digital skills workshops in libraries, the initiative aims to support libraries’ digital skills offerings on an ongoing basis. Three quarters of public libraries assist patrons with job applications and interviewing skills, and 90% offer basic digital skills training.
“Taylor Community Library is excited to partner with Google as part of our mission to enrich our community through education and technology,” said Vanessa Verdun-Morris, Library Director of the Taylor Community Library. “Grow with Google will provide small business owners, job seekers, and entrepreneurs a place to connect with others in our community as they grow their digital skills. The event also provides an opportunity for our library to showcase our small business and career resources.”
To ensure that these free programs are available broadly, the initiative created the Grow with Google Partner Program to empower nonprofits, libraries, government agencies, educational institutions and other organizations with a range of digital skills resources. In Michigan, over 200 organizations are actively participating in the program which they use as a hub for training content, tools and promotional materials. Partners leverage customized toolkits for getting started, hosting trainings, and sharing Grow with Google programs and resources with their community.
In 2018, according to Google’s Economic Impact Report, Google Search and Ads tools helped provide $6.41 billion of economic activity for 27,000 Michigan businesses, website publishers, and nonprofits. The report profiled Roseville-based Suburban Bolt and Supply Co., a premier industrial supplier of high quality fasteners, cutting tools and more, used digital tools to increase their online presence and reach customers.
