Google is coming to the Long Branch Free Public Library on Dec. 4 to host a one-day workshop under its Grow with Google initiative, which provides free training and tools for people to grow their skills and businesses.
The session will include a variety of hands-on, skills-oriented workshops, which attendees can pre-register for, and the opportunity to have one-on-one 20-minute training sessions with Google staff about everything from how to set up an email account to how they can advertise their business.

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“As the economy continues to change and demand new sets of skills, it’s vital that New Jerseyans have the tools to succeed. Google takes this challenge seriously, which is why we will bring ‘Grow with Google’ to New Jersey, and are committed to developing a skilled workforce that’ll help the Garden State continue to grow,” said Erica Swanson, Google’s head of community engagement, in a statement.
Grow with Google aims to prepare Americans for middle-skill jobs, or positions that require some skills but not four year degrees. Middle-skills jobs average $20 per hour and account for 53 percent of New Jersey’s labor market, according to the National Middle Skills Initiative. More than eight in 10 middle-skill jobs require digital skills, according to a study by Burning Glass and Capital One.
One of the workshops will be hosted by Laura Vitale of Laura in the Kitchen, a YouTube personality who, by leveraging free tools and resources from YouTube and Google, landed 3.5 million subscribers and a show on the Cooking Channel.
“I come from a family of small business owners and that entrepreneurial spirit is in my DNA. A decade ago when my husband came up with the crazy idea to put cooking videos up on YouTube, we couldn’t have imagined it would lead us to where we are today. We are still running a small business, we are still sharing our passion for food and cooking, and Laura in the Kitchen is just a completely new way to share that passion,” Vitale said.
In Google’s 2018 Economic Impact report, it was announced that 36,000 businesses in New Jersey generated $7.7 billion in economic activity using Google’s search and advertising tools.
Register for the event online. Space is limited.