West Cook News

Cook County has announced a new partnership between its Project Rainbow initiative and Grow with Google to provide no-cost scholarships for Google Career Certificates to adult learners. The collaboration aims to help hundreds of residents develop skills needed for career advancement or transition.

Project Rainbow, which initially focused on childhood education, is now expanding its efforts to include adults seeking new skills or career opportunities. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said, “Project Rainbow is about giving every Cook County resident learning tools for their growth. These incredible learning scholarship opportunities will help those seeking to accelerate their professional career path, looking for a first job, changing careers, or even getting back into the workforce to build the skills they need to thrive in today’s ever-changing job market and economy.”

Nick Shields, creator of Project Rainbow, added, “From the very beginning, Project Rainbow has been about removing barriers to learning. By partnering with Google, we are able to offer hundreds of adult learners throughout Cook County an opportunity to gain an immense new skillset that employers are looking for right now. This is about making sure talent in Cook County gets every chance to succeed and thrive.”

The Google Career Certificates are online courses designed for jobs in fields such as IT support, data analytics, cybersecurity, digital marketing, and project management. The program does not require participants to have a college degree or prior experience.

Graduates from this program will also receive support from Grow with Google through resources like Interview WarmUp and connections to job opportunities. The scholarships are available for all residents of Cook County who have access to a computer and the Internet.

Since 2018, more than 350,000 people nationwide have completed the program; over 70 percent reported positive outcomes like new employment or promotions within six months after finishing.

Project Rainbow was launched by the Office of the President in 2021 and developed Cook County’s first mobile app. It has also supported initiatives such as the Provident Scholarship Fund—which has awarded over $4 million in scholarships since 2022—and partnered with organizations on educational content for children and families.

For further details on Project Rainbow and information about applying for Grow with Google scholarships as they become available, residents can visit projectrainbow.cookcountyil.gov.