Google Invests $10M in AI Manufacturing Workforce Skills

Google has awarded the Manufacturing Institute (MI) a $10 million grant to expand AI education and workforce training across the U.S. manufacturing sector. The funding will support new AI-focused manufacturing courses, free access to Google’s AI Professional Certificate program, and the expansion of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) into 15 additional regions. Targeting both current workers and the next generation of manufacturing talent, the initiative aims to equip up to 40,000 individuals with practical AI and advanced manufacturing skills while also supporting broader workforce inclusion efforts such as Second Chance Hiring and technical scholarship programs.

FAME is a program that trains and educates employees in the manufacturing sector. Image used courtesy of MI

Funding Focus Areas

On a broad scale, funding from Google will be used to educate existing manufacturing employees and the next generation (as many as 40,000 individuals) seeking to learn how to leverage and apply AI in their chosen subfield of manufacturing. The funding will allow students to develop critical AI skills, extending skill development to 15 regions across the U.S.

A portion of the funding will go towards developing the course, AI 101 for Manufacturing, which provides training on AI fundamentals (from Google) geared towards the manufacturing sector. industry. A second course, AI for Advanced Manufacturing Technicians, will be a fresh development from MI.

The funding will also allow MI to provide existing and future manufacturing workers with Google’s new AI Professional Certificate at no cost. This provides financial support for workers and helps provide an incentive to initiate and complete training.

FAME

Founded in 2010 by Toyota, the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) was taken on by MI in 2019 to scale. The program focuses on developing manufacturing talent through intensive professional best practices, comprehensive technical training, hands-on, in-person training, and rigorous training in manufacturing core competencies. FAME has spread to over a dozen states and runs in 46 hubs across the nation. The Manufacturing Institute is supporting FAME's further growth and, with Google’s grant, seeks to initiate new FAME chapters across 15 new regions.

Second Chance Hiring is intended to help establish an inclusive, progressive workforce, one that invites in worthwhile talent and provides a second chance to grow. Image used courtesy of The National Association of Manufacturers

An All-of-the-Above Workforce

The Manufacturing Institute is a strong supporter and proponent of Second Chance Hiring, closing the opportunity gap by helping manufacturers bring talent into their organizations by equipping and hiring individuals (with the motivation to progress and develop) from the justice-involved population. The Manufacturing Institute works in partnership with Stand Together and is supported in its efforts through a Stand Together Trust Grant. For manufacturers looking to bridge the skills and opportunity gap required to meet the gaping demand for skilled and talented workers, the Second Chance Hiring initiative is a person-first, community-development-focused pathway to this end. Providing individuals with a second chance to grow, learn, and develop is set to add both social and economic value to manufacturing businesses.

The Manufacturing Institute provides a resource guide to local organizations and coalitions seeking to learn more about and implement Second Chance Hiring. The guide also provides information concerning seeking out high-quality partners, planning, equipping, and sustaining the hiring initiative.

Other Training and Scholarship Opportunities

Google is also providing additional support for FAME students by facilitating the Work Ethic Scholarships offered by the mikroweWORKS Foundation. As a part of Google’s AI Opportunity Fund, the organization has also announced funding support for the Electrical Training Alliance. Taken together, Google’s investments form a part of its continuing commitment to secure U.S. infrastructure and accelerate technical skills training to meet growing infrastructure needs.