U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona toured Middlesex Community College in Connecticut today as Gov. Ned Lamont announced that the state is partnering with Google to help college students get jobs after graduating through the Google Career Certificate Program.

It was a homecoming for Cardona, who's from Connecticut and served as the state's education commissioner before taking on his new role as the country's top education official.

During the tour, Cardona said one of the first college classes he ever took was at Middlesex Community College.

Cardona toured the media and ophthalmology centers at the community college. He was joined by Lamont, U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, and others.

Cardona led a panel discussion with several education leaders and students about new ways workforce development programs are being made available to high school and community college students throughout the state.

Lamont announced the partnership between Connecticut and Google.

Connecticut will be the first state in the country to offer all four of the program's certificates at all 12 of its community colleges.

The Google Career Certificate program will allow students to acquire tech skills at little or no cost. The program will begin in the spring.