TechAccess Initiative for AI Readiness and Adoption
Summary
The U.S. National Science Foundation has launched the TechAccess initiative, a national program to accelerate AI readiness and adoption across the U.S. The initiative aims to strengthen coordination, leverage partnerships, and fill gaps to benefit all Americans, with a focus on businesses, public-serving organizations, and individuals. This funding opportunity specifically targets the establishment of State/Territory Coordination Hubs.
What changed
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced the TechAccess initiative, a significant national effort to boost Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness and adoption across the United States. This program is designed to foster collaboration, utilize existing resources, address critical gaps, and scale successful approaches to ensure that local and state priorities can effectively shape an AI-driven economy. Unlike educational-focused initiatives, TechAccess extends its reach to businesses, public-serving organizations, and individuals, providing access to AI knowledge, tools, and practical implementation support, including workforce upskilling through internships, project-based work, and apprenticeships.
This specific funding opportunity focuses on establishing "Coordination Hubs," with one planned for every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. These hubs will connect partners, enhance planning and deployment strategies, and facilitate the rapid scaling of AI readiness initiatives. The NSF will also fund a "National Coordination Lead" and conduct "AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions" through separate mechanisms. The total program funding is $224,000,000, with individual awards expected to range from $3,000,000 to $4,000,000. The application deadline is July 16, 2026.
What to do next
- States and territories should review eligibility requirements for establishing Coordination Hubs.
- Interested entities should prepare applications for the Coordination Hubs funding opportunity.
- Monitor future announcements for AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions.
Source document (simplified)
TechAccess: AI-Ready America
Agency: U.S. National Science Foundation
Assistance Listings: 47.084 -- NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships
17.280 -- WIOA Dislocated Worker National Reserve Demonstration Grants
47.070 -- Computer and Information Science and Engineering
47.076 -- STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources)
Last Updated: March 26, 2026 View version history on Grants.gov
Description
TechAccess: AI‑Ready America is a national-scale initiative to accelerate Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness and adoption across the U.S. by strengthening coordination, leveraging partnerships and resources, filling gaps, and scaling what works—so local and state priorities can lead in shaping an AI-driven economy that benefits all Americans.
Unlike initiatives centered around K–16 education, AI‑Ready America additionally reaches businesses, public-serving organizations, and individuals, among others, expanding access to AI knowledge, tools, and resources. The program... also emphasizes practical implementation through hands‑on assistance and workforce upskilling, including experiential learning such as internships, project‑based work, and apprenticeships, to ensure stakeholders can effectively apply and innovate with AI.
The program supports:
(1) State/Territory Coordination Hubs (Coordination Hubs) – one inevery state, the District of Columbia (DC), or territory inthe United States – connecting partners, strengthening planning and deployment, and rapidly scaling approaches;
(2) A National Coordination Lead (National Lead) – facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing among Coordination Hubs, coordinating priority economic sectors, and informing national AI strategies; and
(3) AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions – a series of topic-driven competitions issued over the course of the program to pilot and scale innovative approaches that address critical national AI readiness needs.
This funding opportunity focuses on Coordination Hubs. The National Lead will be funded as an Other Transaction (OT) offered through an Other Transaction Agreement Solutions Offering.AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions will be announced through an NSF-approved mechanism, with proposals submitted according to the instructions provided at the time of announcement. Show full description
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Miscellaneous
- Unrestricted
Additional information
--
Grantor contact information
Description
NSF grants.gov support
grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
If you have any problems linking to this funding announcement, please contact the email address above.
Documents
No documents are currently available.
Link to additional information
Closing: July 16, 2026
Application process
This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates. View on Grants.gov
Award
$224,000,000
Program Funding
--
Expected awards
$3,000,000
Award Minimum
$4,000,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
26-508
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
No Funding instrument type:
Grant
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
-- Category of Funding Activity:
Science technology and other research and development
Category Explanation:
--
History
Version:
1
Posted date:
March 25, 2026
Archive date:
August 15, 2026
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