TechAccess: AI-Ready America
NSF will fund state/territory coordination hubs to connect partners, strengthen planning and deployment, and scale AI readiness and adoption activities within each state, DC, or territory.
RESTRICTED TO: STATE LOCAL GOV · NONPROFITS
⚑ Coordination Hubs are limited to one in each state, DC, or territory; this notice is specifically for Coordination Hubs, not the National Lead or Catalyst competitions. · National Lead is funded separately via Other Transaction; Catalyst competitions will be announced separately. · Eligibility is not stated in the notice; apply only if the final solicitation confirms your applicant class.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 60 good | technical depth: central; funds technical assistance (capped) |
| IPPRA | 53 partial | outside portfolio topics; signature methods: community engaged, policy analysis; social/behavioral work is substantial; funds technical assistance, not research (capped) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 30 weak | prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
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.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: U.S. National Science Foundation <grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · National Science Foundation conventions SEE AN NSF EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — National Science Foundation's document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.