(Washington, DC) Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development hosted DMPED’s 8th annual March Madness, showcasing the District’s new and upcoming real estate, housing, business, and workforce initiatives. One of these initiatives is a $1 million Google.org grant, where Mayor Bowser and Google partnered to support Community College Prep Academy (CC Prep) to expand their IT Pathways program. The funds will cover scholarships for 250 learners to take a Google Career Certificate training program with wraparound support, such as career coaching. The program equips people with job-ready skills in high-growing fields within 3-6 months with no degree or experience required.

“This partnership with Google aligns with our larger goal of ensuring DC residents have access to jobs and careers in high-demand, high-growth, and good-paying industries,” said Mayor Bowser. “We’re proud to work with Google to give more Washingtonians a fair shot.”

Google’s philanthropic arm, provided a grant to CC Prep to offer the program given the school’s commitment to increase access to essential workforce training for non-traditional students who do not have a degree and are often underrepresented in tech fields. Through this program, Google and CC Prep aim to advance the economic potential of local DC workers, regardless of their education level.

“The Bowser Administration has always created new ways to support our residents with resources and training to help them thrive,” said Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio. “DC is the District of comebacks, and this opportunity ignites individual and collective growth. When residents succeed, the District succeeds. We are all coming back up together.”

Those interested in learning more about the Google Analytics Program at CC Prep can visit their website www.ccprep-academy.org to start the application and screening process, or they can call (202) 770-3252 to speak with a member of the enrollment team.

“Google calls Washington, DC home, and we’re committed to investing in the local community and its residents,” said Andrew Dunckelman, Head of Impact and Insights, Google.org. “We’re proud to work with the Community College Prep Academy to offer the Google Career Certificates. This initiative will help job seekers increase their economic potential and enable them to gain the skills needed for in-demand jobs in the nation’s Capital.”

The Google Career Certificates training program was developed by Google employees to support skilling in high-demand fields. After finishing the program, an employer consortium of over 150 companies—including Washington, DC-area employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and Google—consider graduates for related roles. The certificates can be completed in three to six months of part-time study. Over 70,000 people have graduated from the program in the U.S., and 75% of graduates report a positive career impact, such as a new job, higher pay, or a promotion, within six months of completion. Fifty-five percent of graduates identify as Asian, Black, or Latino. The Google Career Certificates are a part of Grow with Google—the company’s initiative to create economic opportunity for all Americans through digital tools and training programs.

“The partnership between CC Prep and Google is the type of industry relationship that DOES and the DC Infrastructure Academy strive to cultivate in developing career pipelines for District residents,” said DOES Director Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes. “By combining technology and opportunity, 250 Washingtonians will be positioned to meet the demands of the labor market and have access to family sustaining jobs in their community.”

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