On September 30, America's SBDC, the national association for the Small Business Development Center network, announced a partnership with OpenAI. SBDC advisors will be trained to run hands-on AI workshops for local business owners.
According to the announcement, the program aims to reach more than 1,000 small businesses at first. It will "roll out in phases over the coming months," with more details to follow. Advisors and business owners who complete an in-person workshop will receive free access to ChatGPT Plus. "Small businesses deserve the same access to AI tools that large companies already have," said Charles "Tee" Rowe, America's SBDC president and CEO.
State centers are already passing the news on. Alabama SBDC says workshop details will be posted on its website as they become available.
What it means for an SMB
- Low-cost, local help is coming. SBDCs already advise owners on finance and operations. AI training through them comes from people who know your local market.
- Seats will likely be limited. The first phase targets about a thousand businesses nationwide, so asking early helps.
- Bring a real task, not general curiosity. You'll get more from a workshop if you show up with one workflow you want to fix. Our workflow-or-agent guide helps you decide what kind of help that task needs.
- Training is the start, not the finish. Basic skills cover everyday use. Connecting AI to your CRM, books and inbox is a separate project to plan afterward.