The Entrepreneur Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technical Assistance (TA) Program is an initiative designed to strengthen New York State’s small business ecosystem by equipping entrepreneurs and small business owners with AI literacy and practical applications to improve business operations, competitiveness, and sustainability. The Fiscal Year 2025 Enacted Budget includes up to $280,000 to support one Specialist center who will be responsible for both providing technical assistance and the development and integration of an AI curriculum into the EAC Learning Management System (LMS). The Specialist center is required to provide a ten percent (10%) cash or in-kind match against the full $280,000 grant award. The Program will operate through New York State’s network of Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers (EAC), with one designated Specialist EAC serving as the statewide AI hub. The Specialist EAC will provide AI-focused one-on-one technical assistance for entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Specialist EAC will be responsible for the development of a standardized AI curriculum, integrating that curriculum into ESD’s Learning Management System for use by all EACs, providing statewide support through a train-the-trainer model, and developing and presenting annual entrepreneur success stories, which may be shared digitally or at existing convenings such as the EAC Conference. Curriculum development and integration will follow a phased process, to be completed within an 18-month program period.
