AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program

AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program

Supports United States. manufacturers and industry through AI workforce training partnerships.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program invests approximately $25 million to support industry-led partnerships that design and deliver workforce training programs in artificial intelligence. The program is tied to the White House AI Action Plan and specifically targets upskilling American workers for jobs that are critical to regional economies. Administered through EDA's EDGE portal (sfgrants.eda.gov), the program funds non-construction projects only, with all awards requiring that actual training be delivered — not just program design or system development.

EDA anticipates making 5 to 8 awards ranging from $1 million to $8 million per project, with project durations of 24 to 36 months. The maximum federal share is 60%, meaning applicants must supply at least 40% of total project costs from non-federal sources. To be eligible, all applicants must demonstrate EDA's Special Need criteria, such as community economic distress or workforce dislocation. Eligible entity types include nonprofits, higher education institutions, and economic development organizations; for-profit entities and individuals may not apply directly. Training must begin no later than 12 months from the award date. Applications are due July 10, 2026 at 4:59 PM ET.

Applicants that can document a sectoral training partnership with measurable job-placement outcomes have the strongest positioning. Full eligibility details, scoring rubric, and page limits are contained in the PWEAA NOFO PDF (page 42 addendum). The program does not use Grants.gov — all submissions go through EDA's EDGE portal at sfgrants.eda.gov. Organizations operating in economically distressed regions with existing employer networks in AI-intensive sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, or healthcare are best positioned to compete for awards in the $4–$8 million range.