TechAccess: AI-Ready America

Overview

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 up-skilling, 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 in every state, the District of Columbia (DC), or territory in the 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.

NOTICE: This award is limited to one per state. Due to the potential for coordinated, multi-institution engagement at the state level, this opportunity may not follow a standard limited submission review process. Institutional considerations and external partnerships may play a significant role in final decisions. ASU’s course(s) of action will depend upon a careful evaluation of the reasonable and allowable options by university leadership, which will be shared with the limited submissions applicants as soon as is possible.
Notice: ASU Limited Submissions will run this opportunity with a rapid review system to better accommodate the sponsor's immediate timeline.
Limitation: ASU may submit only one (1) application to the sponsoring organization.

Letters of Intent: Submission of Letters of Intent is required. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.