US technology company Google has announced a $1.5bn (€1.37bn) investment across 2026 and 2027 to expand its data centre campus in Jackson County, Alabama, alongside education and workforce programmes designed to provide digital skills training to more than 130,000 state residents, as reported by Edtech Innovation Hub.

The training initiative will be delivered through partnerships with more than 150 organisations, including Alabama A&M University, Northeast Alabama Community College and Wallace State Community College, with funding directed towards the development of Google Career Certificate programmes across the state.

Google has also committed $550,000 (€501,500) to provide science, technology, engineering and mathematics kits for students in grades four through eight across the Jackson County School District, offering hands-on learning linked to digital skills and future careers.

The investment builds on existing Google-funded education programmes in Jackson and DeKalb counties, including robotics events that have involved more than 1,500 students, the Kevin Dukes Career and Innovation Academy and the YouScience aptitude programme for high school students.

Jason Davidson, superintendent of Jackson County School District, said sustained investment in local classrooms is producing tangible outcomes for students. "From supporting regional robotics events to funding critical programs like YouScience, Google's partnership is helping the district transition toward high-tech, future-ready education," he said. "This collaboration ensures that local graduates have a clear, direct path to high-demand careers right here in Alabama."

Google Career Certificates are designed to support learners preparing for technology and business roles, though the announcement does not specify which certificate pathways will be funded through the Alabama university and college partnerships.

Google said the wider digital skills programme will reach more than 130,000 people, though it has not provided a breakdown of learner groups, course types or delivery timelines for the individual training initiatives.

The Jackson County data centre campus, which occupies a former Tennessee Valley Authority coal-fired power plant site, has operated since 2019 and currently supports hundreds of full-time roles, with more than 1,000 contract workers expected on site during the expansion phase.

Explore the full scope of Google's Alabama investment and education initiatives in the full report.