NSF and US Labor Department back AI-ready America with up to $224M for state hubs

Federal partnership ties AI literacy, workforce training, and public deployment support into a national program built around state-level coordination.

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the US Department of Labor have announced a formal partnership to support AI workforce readiness, alongside a funding plan of up to $224 million to establish coordination hubs across all US states and territories.

The initiative, TechAccess: AI-Ready America, is structured to expand access to AI tools, infrastructure, and training, with a focus on workforce development, education pathways, and regional delivery.

NSF said the program will fund up to 56 State and Territory Coordination Hubs, covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories.

The Department of Labor said the partnership will focus on AI literacy, reskilling, upskilling, and workforce training, as well as research into how AI is affecting job roles, skills demand, and labor market outcomes.

Keith Sonderling, US Deputy Secretary of Labor, said in a LinkedIn post that the agreement marks a “milestone partnership” and said the department will connect TechAccess to workforce and education systems through existing initiatives, including its AI Literacy Framework and AI Workforce Hub.

The agreement is formalized through a memorandum of understanding between NSF and the Department of Labor.

$224M funding supports state-level coordination hubs

NSF confirmed that up to $224 million will be allocated to support the rollout of State and Territory Coordination Hubs.

Each hub will act as a central point for coordinating AI readiness activity across education providers, workforce programs, employers, and government agencies within its region.

According to NSF, hub responsibilities will include identifying and mapping AI-related resources, supporting the deployment of AI tools and systems, coordinating training and workforce development activity, and building regional capacity.

The program also includes a National Coordination Lead, which will support alignment across the network of hubs, as well as additional future funding opportunities tied to AI readiness.

Program targets broad access across sectors

TechAccess is designed to support a wide range of participants, including workers, businesses, community organizations, education institutions, and public sector bodies.

NSF said the program will focus on improving access to AI technologies and infrastructure, alongside developing skills and capabilities needed to use and apply AI across different sectors.

The initiative is also intended to support collaboration between education providers, workforce systems, and industry partners at a regional level.

NSF has set out a timeline for the first round of funding, with letters of intent due in June 2026 and full proposals due in July 2026.

The Coordination Hubs are expected to form the core delivery mechanism for the TechAccess program, with further funding competitions planned as the initiative develops.