The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a new funding opportunity as part of an effort to enable all Americans to understand, apply and create with 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 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 Coordination Hubs in every U.S. state and territory.
Informed by the White House AI Action Plan, the NSF AI-Ready America initiative is designed to close 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 that gap is widest: expanding AI literacy and applied skills across the American workforce; equipping small businesses and local governments with the tools and technical assistance to adopt AI; and building hands-on 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 paired with access to advanced science and technology knowledge for our current and future workforce,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “NSF AI-Ready America provides that foundation — giving workers, businesses, and communities in every state and territory the tools and knowledge to advance AI together.”
“The AI-Ready America initiative will ensure every American worker has the skills, knowledge, and training needed to succeed in an AI-driven 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 vital 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 across the Trump Administration to empower small businesses with the training and resources to enhance efficiencies and drive prosperity for the next generation.”
“USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is proud to partner with NSF on this national effort to ensure that every community — including the most rural — can benefit from the power of artificial intelligence,” said Jaye Hamby, USDA NIFA director. “By investing in tools and training that meet farmers and ranchers where they are, we’re helping build an agricultural future that is more resilient, more efficient and more accessible for all. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to ensuring that agricultural producers have the innovations they need to thrive in and provide food and fiber for a rapidly evolving world.”
The initiative will operate through a network of state and territory-based Coordination Hubs — up to 56 in total, covering all U.S. 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 demonstrating continued need during transition.
NSF plans to release a funding opportunity in the future to select a national coordination lead who will facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing among the Coordination Hubs. NSF also anticipates issuing AI-Ready Catalyst award competitions focused on a series of topics to pilot and scale innovative approaches that address critical AI readiness needs.
Responses to the Coordination Hubs funding opportunity are due by Tuesday, June 23, 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). To learn more, register for an informational webinar on Tuesday, April 14, at 1 p.m. EDT. You may also visit the Tech Access: AI-Ready America webpage and read the funding opportunity.
