Microsoft today unveiled a new initiative dubbed Elevate America that is designed to give up to two million people the technical skills "needed to succeed in the 21st-century economy." Visitors to the Elevate America site can access Microsoft online training programs, instructing people on how to use email and the Internet as well more advanced Microsoft certifications.

As part of that effort, the company is announcing one million free "Microsoft Learning" vouchers for people interested in gaining technical certifications. It is also giving cash and software to community partners to build classroom training space and offering discounted memberships to institutions who participate  in the "Microsoft IT Academy." To kick off the effort, Microsoft is working with state governments in Florida, New York and Washington.

“Elevate America is a great example of Microsoft’s leadership on education and work force development — issues that bring us a step closer to recovery by helping us provide critically important help to our citizens," Washington Governor Chris Gregoire said in the release.

But not everyone is impressed, with Alley Insider saying it is more about driving Microsoft certifications. "Promising to "elevate" the country with such a transparently self-serving program seems a bit of a PR reach," writes Eric Krangel.