Shellie Dolan
Shellie Dolan serves as Director of Grants in McAllister and Quinn’s Higher Education Practice. She provides guidance, technical advice, and professional grant writing for clients to pursue external funding opportunities, overseeing grant proposal development from initial concept to submission. Her work has included securing federal funding for community colleges serving disadvantaged and underrepresented student populations. Read more about Shellie.
Focus on Artificial Intelligence Funding Opportunities for Community Colleges
Community colleges have a distinct advantage when developing programs relevant to industry needs, with extensive experience preparing students for high-demand occupations in the areas they serve. These institutions are now working to align programs with changes in technologies and workforce demands to prepare students and incumbent workers to meet specific labor market needs. AI education integration and workforce development is emerging as a priority among state, federal, industry, and community college stakeholders, positioning community colleges to competitively pursue existing and emerging funding opportunities.
Government Prioritizes AI Initiatives for Education and Workforce Development
Released in March, A National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence encouraged support for education, training, and upskilling initiatives to expand AI literacy and technical expertise for a future-ready workforce. March also saw the introduction of the bipartisan NSF AI Education Act of 2026 bill, which would create student scholarships, fellowships for professional development, and new AI education hubs at community colleges with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF). These follow the 2025 Executive Order Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth promoting AI literacy and proficiency. Many states have also developed similar AI education and workforce development goals and programs
These national and state-level policy changes can lead to new or reimagined funding programs supporting AI integration, education and workforce applications
Funding Opportunities for AI-related Community College Programs
Funding for AI programming bridges a number of areas of interest for community colleges, their students, and employers. This includes building infrastructure, establishing AI credential and degree programs, developing student and faculty AI skills, and preparing faculty to integrate AI into courses. Community colleges have been eligible for recently competed programs with an AI focus or component, including:
Current and Upcoming Community College Federal funding for AI Programs include:
Staying prepared for Community College AI Funding Opportunities
Funders are shifting focus toward AI adoption, education and workforce development, a trend we expect will continue into 2027. For community colleges, it is more important than ever to design programs aligned with institutional, student/worker, employer, and regional needs and to ensure that graduates are workforce-ready. McAllister & Quinn partners with clients to provide real-time strategic intelligence, ensuring institutions are positioned to submit a competitive proposal to fund AI-related programs as new opportunities arise. Contact us to schedule a free 15 minute consultation to learn more about these AI opportunities and other community College Funding.
