AI readiness for
Main Street
starts now.
America's 36 million small businesses employ nearly half the private workforce — but most lack the structured training to put AI to work. Bipartisan legislation is building the federal framework. SBDCs and Chambers are the delivery infrastructure. We built the curriculum to fill the gap.
Congress is building the framework.
We deliver the training.
H.R. 5764, the AI for Main Street Act, passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support and directs SBDCs to help small businesses evaluate and adopt AI. The Senate companion S. 3586, introduced by Senators Young and Cantwell, is now before the Small Business Committee. The Cantwell-Moran Small Business AI Training Act would go further — authorizing Commerce Department resources and a grant program for training providers. Together, these bills create a clear federal pathway, and AI for Main Street is built to deliver on it.
"One of my top priorities for federal AI policy is to ensure these technologies are developed in a manner that reflects American values and supports U.S. innovation."
The legislative landscape for
small business AI readiness.
AI for Main Street Act
Passed the House with near-unanimous bipartisan support. Senate companion S. 3586 introduced by Sen. Young (R-Ind.) and Sen. Cantwell (D-Wash.). Referred to Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.
- Amends the Small Business Act to expand SBDC services
- Directs SBDCs to provide AI guidance, training, and outreach
- Covers best practices, cybersecurity, data protection, compliance
- No additional federal appropriations required
Small Business AI Training Act
Reintroduced Feb. 2026 by Sen. Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. Moran (R-Kan.). Broader scope — directs Commerce Dept. to develop AI training resources through NIST and the Hollings MEP.
- Training resources distributed through SBDCs, SCORE, Women's Business Centers, Apex Accelerator
- Covers prompt engineering, financial management, marketing, supply chain, contracting, exporting
- Authorizes grant program for AI training providers
- Prioritizes rural, Tribal, and underserved communities
Built for the organizations
that power Main Street.
H.R. 5764 directly expands your mission — adding AI guidance to the services SBDCs provide to small businesses. As this legislation moves through the Senate, centers that build AI training capacity now will be ready to meet the new service expectations from day one.
Position your development center ahead of the curve.
The legislative framework is moving. SBDCs and state technology partners that build AI training capacity now will define how this space develops. Let's talk about how AI for Main Street fits your network.
Schedule a Conversation →Your members are asking about AI. The Cantwell-Moran bill envisions AI training flowing through the organizations small businesses already trust. Chambers, Economic Development Organizations, and Technology Councils are the natural delivery partners — and this is both a community service opportunity and a membership value play.
Own the AI conversation in your community.
Organizations that move first will define AI readiness in their regions. Book a call to see how AI for Main Street works with your Chamber, EDO, or Technology Council.
Book a Call →AI isn't just for big companies with big budgets. Whether you run a restaurant, a machine shop, a consulting firm, or an e-commerce store, practical AI tools can help you compete, save time, and make better decisions — starting today.
The businesses that adapt will win. The rest won't survive.
That's not hype — it's what's already happening. 58% of small businesses are using generative AI. The gap between those who've figured it out and those who haven't is widening every month. Connect with your local SBDC or Chamber to access AI for Main Street training before your competitors do.
Find Training Near You →Corporate partners gain direct access to 36 million small businesses through a trusted, mission-aligned channel. AI for Main Street offers co-branded programs, sponsored workshops, and strategic positioning as a small business AI champion.
Become a corporate champion for Main Street AI.
Explore co-branded programs, sponsored workshop series, and partnership opportunities aligned with America's small business community.
Explore Partnership →
Common questions about
AI for Main Street.
H.R. 5764 passed the U.S. House of Representatives 395–14 in January 2026. It amends the Small Business Act to direct Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to assist small businesses in evaluating and adopting AI — covering best practices, cybersecurity, data protection, regulatory compliance, and operational integration. The Senate companion, S. 3586, was introduced by Senators Young (R-Ind.) and Cantwell (D-Wash.) and is pending before the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.
The Small Business Artificial Intelligence Training Act, reintroduced in February 2026 by Senators Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Moran (R-Kan.), is a broader companion effort. It directs the Department of Commerce — through NIST and the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership — to develop AI training resources and distribute them through SBA resource partners including SBDCs, Women's Business Centers, SCORE, Veteran Business Opportunity Centers, and the Apex Accelerator. It also authorizes a grant program for organizations providing AI training to small businesses.
We provide a ready-made AI training curriculum that SBDCs, Chambers, and other partner organizations can deploy through their existing networks. As Congress moves to expand AI guidance services, organizations that build training capacity now will be positioned to meet demand, serve their communities, and — under the Cantwell-Moran bill's grant program — potentially access federal support for training delivery.
The curriculum is designed to align with the guidance areas identified in both bills: AI fundamentals and best practices, data privacy and cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, customer trust, operational integration, financial management, marketing, supply chain optimization, and government contracting. Content is practical, jargon-free, and designed for business owners and their teams — not technologists.
H.R. 5764 explicitly authorizes no additional federal appropriations — it directs SBDCs to add AI guidance within their existing budgets. However, the Cantwell-Moran Small Business AI Training Act authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to create a grant program for organizations providing AI training, with priority for rural and underserved communities. Organizations that build programs now will be well-positioned if and when grant funding becomes available.
Marcus Nelson is the founder of AI for Main Street and CEO of ExecAcademy.ai. With over 20 years in enterprise technology and workforce development, Marcus identified the critical gap between enterprise AI capabilities and the practical training small businesses need to compete. He designs curriculum for SBDC and Chamber delivery networks and speaks at national conferences on small business AI readiness.
"The gap between enterprise AI and Main Street isn't technical. It's translational."
Marcus Nelson Founder, AI for Main Street
The translator between
enterprise AI and Main Street.
Marcus Nelson is the founder of AI for Main Street and CEO of ExecAcademy.ai. With over two decades of experience in enterprise technology, workforce development, and small business advocacy, Marcus identified the critical gap between AI's enterprise adoption and the practical, structured training that 36 million small businesses need to compete.
His curriculum is designed to align with the bipartisan legislative framework — H.R. 5764, S. 3586, and the Small Business AI Training Act — so that SBDCs, Chambers, and state partners can deliver AI readiness training that reflects what Congress is asking for and what small businesses actually need.
Small businesses can't wait
for AI to happen to them.
The disruption is already here. The legislative framework is moving. The only question is whether your community's small businesses will be ready — or left behind. Book a 30-minute call with Marcus to see how AI for Main Street fits your organization.