Massachusetts announces Grow with Google partnership to offer free AI courses statewide

Carolyn Kirk, chief executive officer of the MassTech Collaborative, opened the event in Kendall Square and introduced the Massachusetts AI Hub’s new partnership with Grow with Google. "We are home to the AI hub for Massachusetts," Kirk said, and described the hub as a state‑facing economic development entity created under the 2024 Mass Leads Act.

Sabrina Mansour, director of the Massachusetts AI Hub, said the partnership will give "residents across the state" free access to Grow with Google’s AI courses and career certificates and called the collaboration a way to expand equitable access to AI skills. "These are industry recognized credentials and they're flexible," Mansour said, noting the training is designed for small‑business owners, people pivoting careers and workers seeking upskilling.

Governor Maura Healey framed the announcement as part of a broader state strategy to promote AI literacy and workforce development. "Grow with Google has arrived in Massachusetts," the governor said, adding that the administration wants the state to be "the applied AI capital of the United States." Healey said she had tried the curriculum herself to underscore its accessibility and encouraged residents and community organizations to use the free training.

Officials emphasized that the program pairs online training with local mentorship, employer engagement and pathways to connect learners with jobs. Mansour described the hub’s role as coordinating "data, compute [and] talent across the state" to translate training into economic opportunity. The program’s target audiences, as presented, include small businesses, caregivers, stay‑at‑home parents and people historically underrepresented in technology.

Event remarks also cited the Mass Leads Act, passed in 2024, as the legislative driver for establishing the AI hub and related regional tech hub programs. Several state secretaries and economic development staff were introduced during the program; Secretary Eric Paley was announced to speak next, but the provided transcript ends as his remarks begin.

The announcement does not include dollar amounts, enrollment caps or a rollout timetable beyond the statement that courses and certificates will be available at no cost. Officials said the partnership will also leverage private‑sector mentorship and employer engagement to help translate training into jobs. The hub and Google will be responsible for implementation details and outreach; specifics on funding, enrollment targets and reporting were not specified in the transcript.

The event closed with calls to action for residents to explore the Grow with Google offerings and for partners to help the state reach underrepresented communities. Organizers said the partnership aligns with the hub’s mission to make Massachusetts a leading place to apply AI in industry and government.