Google announced a $1 million renewal grant to the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce for Go Digital 2.0 on Sept. 22, expanding an initiative designed to help small businesses adopt artificial intelligence and other digital tools.
The announcement follows the Chamber’s annual Economic Development Breakfast at City Point in Downtown Brooklyn, where this year’s program focuses on AI and its impact on New York City’s economy.
Under the new initiative, the Brooklyn Chamber plans to work with 20 chambers of commerce and local business-serving organizations across New York state.
“AI is no longer a tool reserved for tech giants," said Randy Peers, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. "It is an essential operational asset for main street small businesses looking to compete, scale, and thrive."
The initiative is intended to create a network through which chambers and other business-serving groups can continue providing AI education and support to small businesses beyond the initial rollout.
The participating organizations will receive funding, AI curricula, marketing and recruitment materials, operational guidance and technical support to develop training programs for businesses in their communities.
The $1 million grant includes $400,000 in direct implementation funding, with each participating organization receiving $20,000. The program will also provide staff training intended to enable local organizations to conduct future AI training cohorts independently.
The expansion builds on the Brooklyn Chamber’s earlier Go Digital work, which has focused on helping small businesses use digital tools. The Chamber previously partnered with Google on a Go Digital expansion that provided digital marketing assistance to businesses across New York City.
The new statewide effort is expected to reach at least 200 small businesses during its initial rollout. Organizers say the program will focus on practical applications of AI, including improving operations, increasing efficiency and helping business owners make greater use of digital technology.
Following the announcement, participating organizations will receive training and implementation resources before developing local programs.
