SMITHFIELD, RI – At a joint press conference on October 30, U.S. Senator Jack Reed ’10H and Bryant University announced $1.6 million in federal funding to provide free applied AI training and consulting services for Rhode Island small businesses and expand the university’s AI capabilities to meet the needs of local employers. The initiative will help the state’s small businesses adopt AI responsibly, increase revenue, sharpen their competitive edge, and grow via free programming through the Applied AI Academy, part of Bryant’s Executive Education and Career Accelerator.
Following the announcement, Reed joined Bryant leadership, students, faculty, and small business owners for a tour of the university’s new AI Accelerator Hub within Bryant's Business Entrepreneurship Leadership Center (BELC).
“Artificial intelligence is here and already starting to transform the way we do business. How do we ensure Rhode Island small businesses can harness it to compete, grow, and thrive? The potential and peril of AI is one of the defining issues of our time, and preparing students and small businesses to ethically use the power of AI in a way that improves the health, well-being, security, and economic prospects for people from all communities is essential,” said Senator Reed, a leading member of the Appropriations Committee. “This $1.6 million federal investment will help Bryant University experts team up with students and faculty to better equip small businesses with AI tools and develop AI strategies tailored to their needs.”
LEARN MORE AND APPLY: Applied AI Academy for RI Businesses
Senator Reed secured the $1.6 million federal earmark for Bryant University in the fiscal year 2026 appropriations law. Federal funding will support the expansion of Bryant’s existing AI Faculty Fellows Program, led by the Center for Teaching Excellence; the development of new AI training and technology resources; and technical assistance and implementation support for Rhode Island small businesses. Bryant is supporting the initiative through an investment in facilities, infrastructure, and resources for the AI Accelerator Hub.
“Bryant is uniquely positioned to provide regional employers with the applied AI knowledge and resources necessary to improve productivity, drive innovation, and sustain economic growth,” says Bryant President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. “I’m grateful to Senator Reed for his leadership and for recognizing the critical role of higher education in strengthening the Rhode Island economy.”
The new, free training program builds on Bryant’s national leadership in applied AI and longstanding commitment to supporting Rhode Island’s small businesses. It also draws on the John H. Chafee Center for International Business’s extensive relationships across the state’s business community to recruit participants and connect them with the tools and expertise to succeed. Training will be customized for specific sectors, including health care, manufacturing, and professional services.
“Bryant has positioned itself as a catalyst for AI innovation and application, preparing our students with the skills to lead through integrated coursework and industry-leading facilities, including our Center for Applied AI,” says Bryant Provost and Chief Academic Officer Rupendra Paliwal, Ph.D., noting Bryant’s recognition in the 2026 AI50 Awards by the Center for Public Sector AI. “This initiative will extend our faculty expertise beyond the Bryant community, helping Rhode Island small businesses access the AI training, technical assistance, and implementation support they need to put emerging technologies to work.”
“This is an exciting day for Bryant University and for Rhode Island, as we bring together the university’s expertise to help small businesses across the state harness the potential of AI,” says Bryant University Vice President for Strategy and Partnerships Edinaldo Tebaldi, Ph.D. “Senator Reed’s steadfast leadership ensures strong partnership with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community partners, creating opportunities that will benefit Rhode Island for years to come.”
Bryant University will begin accepting applications from small businesses to participate in the new training program next month, with the first cohort of participants beginning training in spring 2027. The John H. Chafee Center for International Business will manage the marketing of the program, sign-ups, and participant selection.
Interested small businesses can visit Bryant's Applied AI Academy for RI Businesses page or contact the John H. Chafee Center for International Business at ChafeeAI@bryant.edu for more information.