On March 24, 2026, U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey presented $1.031 million in federal funds to the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.
The goal: help small businesses adopt AI. At no cost to the small businesses.
This is real money for a real program, and if you're a small business owner in Maryland, you should be paying attention.
What the Program Actually Does
The Smith School's Center for Artificial Intelligence in Business - which has been working with small businesses on AI adoption for several years - will use the grant to:
- Analyze existing AI tools and evaluate which ones are actually worth using for SMBs (small to mid-size businesses)
- Develop new programs tailored to small business needs
- Offer online courses and workshops for small businesses across Maryland
The Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is partnering on the initiative. That's important because SBDCs have existing relationships with small businesses in every county - this isn't a university program looking for an audience from scratch.
Professor Balaji Padmanabhan, who directs the Center for AI in Business, put it plainly: "A lot of small business owners don't know where to start when it comes to AI. But to survive and thrive, they have to be scrappy, they have to be innovative, and they have to be resilient. And AI can help with all of that."
He also noted something worth remembering: "Small businesses drive over 40% of the GDP in the U.S. economy, so the opportunity here for AI is significant."
If You're in Maryland
This program will run through the Maryland SBDC network. Your entry point:
Maryland SBDC: marylandsbdc.org
Sign up for their mailing list if you haven't already. When workshops and courses open up under this initiative, that's where they'll be announced. Online courses are expected to be part of the offering, which means you may be able to participate even if you're not near College Park.
If You're Not in Maryland
Here's the honest answer: you might not benefit from this specific program. But you're probably not as alone as you think.
SBDCs operate in every state and are funded primarily by the Small Business Administration (SBA). They provide free or low-cost consulting, training, and resources to small business owners, and many have added AI programming in the last 12 months.
To find your local SBDC: americassbdc.org/find-your-sbdc
Beyond SBDCs, SCORE (score.org) has mentors who specialize in technology, and many chambers of commerce are now running AI workshops. These resources are often free or close to it.
Why Federal Money Is Flowing Here
This grant isn't an accident. It reflects a broader recognition in Washington that AI adoption is becoming a competitiveness issue, not just a technology trend.
The SBA has been expanding its digital resources for years. Federal officials are increasingly aware that large enterprises have full-time staff navigating AI, while small businesses are doing it alone, often after watching a YouTube video and hoping for the best.
The $1 million going to Maryland is a signal that more programs like this are coming. If you're active with your local SBDC, you're more likely to hear about them when they arrive.
The Practical Bottom Line
If you're a small business owner who has been putting off learning how to use AI because it feels overwhelming, this week's news offers two things:
First, validation that the feeling is common and understandable. Even the people building these programs acknowledge that knowing where to start is genuinely hard.
Second, a free pathway to get started. Whether you're in Maryland or not, there are resources available right now that cost you nothing except time.
The small businesses that will be most competitive in three years aren't necessarily the ones using the most AI today. But they are, almost certainly, the ones who started learning how it works before they had to.
Source: UMD Smith School of Business press release, March 24, 2026. Grant presented by U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.).