Project Grant ED24HDQ0G0417

PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO ENHANCE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS (AI/AS) FLUENCY AND ENGAGEMENT IN THE GREENWOOD COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ADVANCING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) PARTICIPATION, INNOVATION, RESEARCH, AND ENGAGEMENT (ASPIRE) PROGRAM. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL COMPUTING INFRASTRUCTURE, EVENTS, AND TRAINING TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN THE TULSA TECH HUB INITIATIVES AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. A KEY COMPONENT IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORLD-CLASS AI/AS CO-INNOVATION LAB IN TULSA'S HISTORIC GREENWOOD DISTRICT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MICROSOFT, TO EXPAND TECHNOLOGY ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES TULSANS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: HIRE TWO NEW ASPIRE STAFF, THREE FULL-TIME AI CO-INNOVATION LAB STAFF, AND ONBOARD INITIAL COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS COHORT. THREE ADDITIONAL PART-TIME STAFF WILL BE HIRED BY THE END OF YEAR TWO OF THE GRANT PROGRAM. LAUNCH INITIAL PILOT COHORT OF FOUR ENGAGEMENTS AT THE AI CO-INNOVATION LAB LAUNCH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, QUARTERLY MARQUEE EVENTS AND MONTHLY EDUCATIONAL EVENTS PROCURE COMPUTING RESOURCES AND PREPARE LAB FOR OPERATIONS. EXPAND LAB ENGAGEMENTS AND OPERATIONS, INCLUDING A MARKETING CAMPAIGN. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: INCREASE AI/AS FLUENCY AND WORKFORCE READINESS AMONG INDIVIDUALS IN GREENWOOD'S COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS IMPROVE ACCESS TO CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THE AI/AS CO-INNOVATION LAB. FOSTER STRONGER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION IN AI/AS INITIATIVES, LEADING TO THE CREATION OF SCALABLE START-UPS AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT ENHANCE REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS IN THE GREATER TULSA REGION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS GRANT PROGRAM INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS IN GREENWOOD'S COMMUNITIES AND THOSE IN THE GREATER TULSA REGION (GTR), COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WILL GAIN ACCESS TO AI/AS TRAINING, RESOURCES, AND TECHNOLOGY, AS WELL AS LOCAL BUSINESSES AND START-UPS. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: STAND UP OPERATING TEAM, RECRUIT LAB STAFF, AND PREPARE LAB SPACE FOR OPERATIONS KICKSTART COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND MARKETING CAMPAIGNS ACQUIRE COMPUTE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ONBOARD INITIAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR TRAINING PROGRAMS LAUNCH PILOT PROGRAM AND EXPAND SCOPE/SCALE OF COMMUNITY EVENTS EXPAND LAB OPERATIONS AND CAPACITY TO SUPPORT MORE ENGAGEMENTS, START-UPS, AND FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH ACHIEVE FULL UTILIZATION OF LAB ENGAGEMENTS