Mississippi artificial intelligence network (MAIN) --- the state of mississippi, through the mississippi department of environmental quality (MDEQ), will be the recipient of the restore act spill…

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (GCERC) awarded $6.78 million under the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Oil Spill Impact Program (CFDA 87.052) to the State of Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) on November 12, 2025, with project completion scheduled for April 30, 2030. The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) Project supports workforce development and job creation in artificial intelligence technologies across the Gulf Coast region. MDEQ, serving as the prime recipient, implements the project through a subaward to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), which operates the first statewide coalition of educational institutions in the nation dedicated solely to artificial intelligence awareness, training, and implementation.

MGCCC provides comprehensive workforce training services in emerging AI technologies to students throughout the Gulf Coast region by leveraging federal funding to support industry training programs, qualified staff, administrative support, equipment acquisition, software licenses, information technology infrastructure, and associated operational costs. The project establishes a dedicated artificial intelligence training and research hub at MGCCC that serves as a model for future AI centers statewide. These activities align with the RESTORE Act's mission to restore and protect the economy of the Gulf Coast region following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill by building a skilled workforce capable of supporting AI-driven economic development and business innovation.

Mississippi artificial intelligence network (MAIN) --- the state of mississippi, through the mississippi department of environmental quality (MDEQ), will be the recipient of the restore act spill impact component funds for the mississippi artificial intelligence network (MAIN) project. Under a subaward with MDEQ, mississippi gulf coast community college (MGCCC) will implement this project. The project will support workforce development and job creation with artificial intelligence (AI) in the gulf coast region through the MGCCC, which would provide workforce training to students in emerging AI technologies. MAIN is a groundbreaking statewide coalition of mississippi community colleges and universities, established to position the state's educational institutions at the forefront of AI awareness, training, and implementation within business and industry. MAIN is the first statewide coalition of educational institutions in the nation dedicated solely to AI. This project will allow MGCCC to support workforce development by funding industry training, staff, and associated administrative support, equipment, software licenses, operational costs, IT infrastructure, and other related expenses.