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EDA webinar details $25 million AI Upskill Accelerator pilot, outlines application requirements and July 10 deadline
Summary
The Economic Development Administration on May 11, 2026 hosted a webinar detailing an AI Upskill Accelerator NOFO addendum that makes $25 million available in grants (4–8 awards of $1M–$8M), requires 40% applicant match, and sets a July 10, 2026 application deadline; presenters outlined eligibility, phases, reporting and evaluation criteria.
Justin Tulie, acting director of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Economic Development Administration, and Carla Garrett of EDA's workforce team led a May 11 webinar introducing the AI Upskill Accelerator pilot and a concurrent addendum to EDA's existing Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program funding notice.
The addendum makes $25 million available and anticipates four to eight awards ranging from $1 million to $8 million, with no single award to exceed $8 million. "EDA will have a maximum investment rate of 60%," Garrett said, meaning applicants must provide 40% in eligible match. Garrett illustrated the cost share with an example: for a $10 million project the maximum EDA federal contribution would be $6 million and the applicant would need to document $4 million in match.
The program is framed as a pilot to surface scalable employer‑led approaches to AI workforce training. Tulie said the effort responds to federal AI policy direction and leverages EDA's workforce grants authority and a sectoral partnership model. "We are looking for tight groups of employers, training providers and other entities to come together and design in‑demand workforce training," he said, emphasizing training in AI tools already in use rather than speculative future applications.
Applications may address up to three time‑bound phases: an optional six‑month system development phase, an optional program design phase (generally about 12 months) and a required program implementation phase that delivers training and moves participants into workforce outcomes. Garrett said all awards will carry periods of performance of 24 to 36 months and projects must begin training within one year of award start date.
On application format, Garrett said each proposal must include a project narrative of no more than 12 pages (12‑point font, single spaced, 1‑inch margins). Attachments permitted outside the page limit include match letters, sectoral partnership and employer commitment letters, and the comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS/SIDS). Garrett urged applicants to provide clear, data‑based answers to the NOFO's "special need" criteria, which require applicants to identify the industry focus and employers, explain how AI is currently being used in that industry, and justify why training is needed to preserve or enhance the region's competitiveness.
Garrett described documentation expectations in detail: match sources must be documented with signed letters from authorized representatives confirming funds will be unencumbered and committed at award, and in‑kind contributions must include a valuation tied to the project. Employer commitment letters should show concrete contributions and measurable commitments; vague advisory letters are unlikely to carry significant weight with reviewers.
Submission logistics and timeline were reviewed: the AI addendum was released May 11, 2026, the application window is open for 60 days, and the deadline is July 10, 2026 at 4:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Garrett said EDA expects to announce awards in fall 2026. All applications must be submitted through EDA's Economic Development Grants Experience portal (EDGE); presenters said links, recordings and slides will be posted on EDA's website and FAQs will be updated with chat and emailed questions. Garrett advised applicants to use the webinar materials and upcoming technical assistance sessions to strengthen proposals and suggested using the presentation's storyboard slide when preparing application narratives.
The presenters closed by encouraging applicants to direct questions to EDA's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship inbox with the subject line "AI Ready Workforce FY2026" and by reiterating that EDA cannot change statutorily defined eligibility or special need criteria in the NOFO.
The NOFO and AI addendum should be reviewed together; where the addendum refines or supersedes language in the anchoring notice of funding opportunity, applicants should follow the addendum guidance. EDA will post the webinar recording and slide deck on its website for reference.
