The National Science Foundation awarded $2.8 million to launch a National Applied AI Consortium that centers community colleges in America’s AI workforce strategy. The initiative positions two‑year institutions as primary conduits for training the technicians and applied practitioners who will implement and maintain AI systems across industries. Program partners aim to develop short-cycle credentials, transfer pathways, and employer-aligned curricula so graduates can rapidly enter data‑adjacent and AI-support roles. The model emphasizes hands-on pedagogy and regional labor-market alignment, arguing that credentialing at community colleges can expand economic mobility and meet employer demand more efficiently than siloed university programs. The funding signals federal interest in diversifying AI talent pipelines beyond elite research universities, and it could accelerate partnerships between community colleges, local employers, and industry consortia seeking skilled operators rather than PhD-level researchers.