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

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.

For more NSF news,
visit our news site.

The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by
advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and
engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing
facilities, instruments, and funding to support their ingenuity and
sustain the U.S. as a 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 about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include
support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic
research and operations, and U.S. participation in international
scientific efforts.