Community colleges are positioning themselves as the practical pipeline for applied AI talent after an NSF grant established the National Applied AI Consortium and put two‑year institutions at the center of workforce strategy. The initiative channels $2.8 million to scale applied AI training at community colleges, emphasizing technician roles and industry partnerships. Meanwhile, DeVry University announced an initiative embedding AI literacy across all courses to prepare graduates for an AI‑driven labor market. Together these moves reflect a broader sector pivot: community colleges and career‑focused institutions are aligning curricula, employer partnerships and credentialing to meet immediate AI labor demand and offer alternative pathways to traditional four‑year research pipelines.