OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — Google announced $500,000 in funding for Mayes County nonprofits and school districts to expand STEM education, improve technology access, and support local community programs.
The funding, provided through Google’s Community Investment Fund, will support Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country, Mayes County HOPE, Mayes County Historical Society, OK Freedom Flight, Your Place Resource Center, the Adair Community For Excellence in Education Foundation, and three local school districts.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country will use the funding to expand after-school and summer STEM programming at club locations in Pryor, Locust Grove, and Chouteau. The programs will include hands-on aerospace, electrical design, engineering, and robotics kits.
Three school districts also received funding. Chouteau-Mazie Public Schools will modernize technology for its esports program and business technology classes. Locust Grove Public Schools will replace Chromebooks for elementary, middle, and high school students. Salina Public Schools will fund an after-school technology program focused on coding, robotics, and digital media for pre-K through fifth grade students.
Other funded projects include a new computer lab to help veterans access jobs, benefits, and Google Career Certificates; augmented reality and interactive exhibits at the Mayes County Historical Society; and a mobile podcast studio using Gemini and Google tools to support life coaching and wellness programs.
“We are honored to collaborate with these vital organizations driving real change in Mayes County,” said Jessica Forman, Google manager of data center community workforce and development in Oklahoma. “These schools and nonprofit organizations serve as the backbone of our communities, and these funds will direct resources toward STEAM programs and technology access for all ages — from elementary students to veterans.”
Google has operated a data center in Mayes County for more than a decade. Since 2008, Google and its employees have contributed more than $12 million in grants, social impact funding, employee donations, and matching gifts to organizations and nonprofits in Oklahoma.
