Google Launches Free Digital Skills Training Center In Chelsea

CHELSEA, NY — Google launched a free digital skills training center in Chelsea Monday morning.

Google's NYC Learning Center will host hands-on workshops, one-on-one coaching and community events for its five-month Grow with Google program to offer programming and digital skills training for free, the tech company said Monday. The two-story learning center opened Monday morning.

Classes such as online marketing, creating a resume and introductory coding for kids will be offered for free at Google's Chelsea offices, located at 111 Eighth Ave. between 15th and 16th Sts. Classes are offered six days a week morning through evening.

"Whether it's a student wanting to better understand coding or a small business owner looking to reach new customers online, we think there will be something for everyone here," Google's vice president Torrence Boone said in a statement.

Google is partnering with community organizations for its training programs as well — including Hudson Guild, Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Boys & Girls Clubs, New York Public Library, NYC Employment & Training Coalition, among others.

Ken Jockers, the executive director of Hudson Guild, a Chelsea-based organization providing myriad neighborhood services, said Google's learning center would allow the organization to "expand what we offer to our participants, and to continue to strengthen the ties between our Chelsea community and the team at Google," he said in a statement.

Local politicians Rep. Jerrold Nadler and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer lauded the Grow with Google programming at the tech center's launch Monday morning.

“Grow with Google has proven to be a great resource for local businesses and people who want to advance their careers, and I can’t wait to see how this open to the public Learning Center will impact the neighborhood and the city as a whole," Nadler said in a statement.

Google's community investment through the digital skills training center comes amid the company's expansion on Manhattan's west side, beyond its current Chelsea headquarters on Eighth Ave.

Last December, the company announced it would add offices in Hudson Square and the West Village at 315 and 345 Hudson St. and 550 Washington St. A little more than one year ago, Google purchased Chelsea Market's building at 75 Ninth Ave.

You can sign up for Google's free workshops here. The company will host an open house Saturday, April 13 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for classes, demonstrations and food.