NSF initiative aims to make every American worker, business and community AI-ready

The US National Science Foundation announced a new funding opportunity in an effort to enable all Americans to understand, apply, and create artificial intelligence. The NSF TechAccess: AI-Ready America (NSF AI-Ready America) initiative aims to expand access to AI knowledge, tools, training, and capacity building so that all Americans can participate in and benefit from the AI ​​economy.

As a first step, NSF and federal partners—the Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), the Department of Labor, and the Small Business Administration—are releasing a funding opportunity to establish AI-ready coordinating centers in every US state and territory.

informed by
White House AI Action PlanThe NSF AI-Ready America initiative is designed to bridge the gap between the nation’s AI capabilities and the workforce, businesses, and communities that need to use them. The initiative targets three areas where this gap is greatest: expanding AI literacy and practical skills in the US workforce; Equipping small businesses and local governments with tools and technical assistance to adopt AI; and creating practical learning pathways – including internships and project-based programs – that translate AI skills into real-world application.

“America’s AI competitiveness depends on a strong research and development ecosystem with access to advanced science and technology knowledge for our current and future workforce,” said Brian Stone, assuming the duties of NSF Director. “NSF AI-Ready America provides that foundation – providing workers, businesses and communities in every state and territory with the tools and knowledge to advance AI.”

“The AI-Ready America initiative will ensure that every American worker has the skills, knowledge and training needed to succeed in an AI-powered economy,” said Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Under President Trump’s bold leadership, the Department of Labor is proud to partner with NSF to advance AI readiness, empower American businesses to innovate with AI, and create opportunities that will benefit all Americans.

“Winning the AI ​​race is critical to ensuring continued American dominance in defense, innovation, and economic strength,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “SBA looks forward to collaborating with NSF and our partners in the Trump Administration to empower small businesses with the training and resources to increase efficiency and bring prosperity to the next generation.”

“USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is proud to partner with NSF in this national effort to ensure that every community, including the most rural, can benefit from the power of artificial intelligence,” said Jay Hamby, Director of USDA NIFA. “By investing in tools and training that match farmers and ranchers where they are, we are helping to build an agricultural future that is more resilient, more efficient and more accessible to all. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to ensuring agricultural producers have the innovation they need and provide food and fiber for a rapidly evolving world.”

The initiative will operate through a network of state and territory-based coordination centers – up to 56 in total, covering all US states, territories and the District of Columbia – selected through three rounds of competition. Each hub will connect local partners, coordinate deployment and scale proven approaches based on the priorities of state and local stakeholders. NSF will invest up to $1 million annually per hub over three years, with the possibility of a fourth year for hubs that demonstrate continued need during the transition.

NSF plans to issue a funding opportunity in the future to select a national coordination lead who will facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing among the coordinating centers. NSF also expects to release AI-Ready Catalyst Awards competitions, focused on a range of topics to operationalize and scale innovative approaches that address critical AI readiness needs.

Responses to the Coordination Hub funding opportunity are due by Tuesday, June 23, at 5:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). To know more,
Register for the informational webinar
Tuesday, April 14 at 1 pm EDT. you can also visit
Tech Access: AI-Ready America Webpage
read more
Funding opportunity.

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The U.S. National Science Foundation advances the nation by pursuing fundamental research in all areas of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, equipment, and funding to support their ingenuity and maintain America as the global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2026 budget of $8.75 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities, and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes approximately 11,000 new awards. Those rewards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.