Microsoft is trying to do its part to help with the economy and get people the skills that they need with the launch of their new training and certification program called Elevate America.

The program’s goal is to get people access to job training that they need to be successful. The program will roll out in the State of Washington first, giving Americans the ability to receive free or low-cost certification in several technical disciplines. Microsoft will also be giving away over 1 million vouchers to allow people to take the certifications for the courses.

Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, has continued to say that technology will be a big help to getting people back to work and in fixing many of the issues of our struggling economy. Ballmer has been a big advocate for training, as well, and has previously looked for support from Congress to broaden training for unemployed workers.

Microsoft has been previously involved in programs to assist in providing training and certification to the public, but this new effort is a more intense and aggressively organized attack on the problems related to unemployment and job obsolescence.

Once rolled out in the State of Washington, Florida and New York will be next. The next roll out round will consist of California, Colorado, Delaware, Virginia, and Minnesota.