Tech Talent Accelerator 3.0 - Innovation Grant-Request for Proposals

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Liam

Tech Talent Accelerator 3.0 Innovation Grant Request for Proposals outlines a third-phase initiative to strengthen Connecticut’s AI-skilled workforce through business-higher education collaborations. The proposal process supports partnerships that create pathways to AI-enabled jobs in CT, emphasizing innovation in delivery models such as work-based learning, stackable credentials, dual enrollment, and accelerated training. The document defines program priorities and objectives, eligibility and funding use, grant timeline, and award criteria with a scoring approach to guide applicants.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Program Priorities & Objectives

Technical Assistance

Eligibility

Available Funds

Fund Use

Grant Timeline

Award Criteria

Proposal Scoring

Resources to Consider in Developing a Proposal

Tech Talent Accelerator 3.0 Innovation Grant-Request for Proposals Tech Talent Accelerator 3.0 ...................................................................................... 1 Innovation Grant-Request for Proposals ................................................................. 1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................3 Program Priorities & Objectives.............................................................................4 Technical Assistance ............................................................................................5 Eligibility ...............................................................................................................6 Available Funds.....................................................................................................6 Fund Use ...............................................................................................................6 Grant Timeline ......................................................................................................7 Award Criteria .......................................................................................................7 Proposal Scoring ...................................................................................................8 Resources to Consider in Developing a Proposal................................................. 11 Introduction Artificial intelligence (AI) has accelerated innovation in workplaces across industries around the United States. In Connecticut, demand for AI skills is rising. Since February 2025, over 13,100 job postings have required AI skills – a 56% increase from the year prior. Today, 1 in 27 jobs in the state list AI skill requirements, up from 1 in 70 two years ago. The demand is even stronger in roles requiring an associate or bachelor’s degree, where 1 in 22 jobs now call for AI expertise, spanning nearly every industry and occupation (BHEF analysis of Lightcast Job Postings) . Current and future workers in Connecticut must be equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in an AI-driven world. To meet the burgeoning demand for AI-skilled talent and keep Connecticut’s workforce competitive, the state must deploy its entire workforce ecosystem, including its higher education institutions, comprised of community colleges, four-year public and independent colleges and universities, in addition to engaging the K-12 system. Each sector and institution, public and private, has a critical role to play in preparing learners for the workplace, and in reskilling and upskilling incumbent workers and those currently out of the labor force. Since 2022, Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) and The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) have worked with the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy (OWS) to direct a higher education innovation challenge: the Connecticut Tech Talent Accelerator (TTA) . Through two grant periods (TTA 1.0 and TTA 2.0), TTA has built higher education-business partnerships to modernize curricula, deliver short-term credentials that offer targeted training in essential tech skills, and increase the supply of skilled tech talent for Connecticut’s employers. The third phase of TTA (“TTA 3.0”) launched in 2025 and is focused on providing postsecondary learners and workers with essential skills in AI. A Pilot Grant cohort was selected in January 2026 to discover how current business-higher education collaborations, established through the first two rounds of the challenge, can effectively update existing curricula, courses, credentials and programs with industry-driven AI skills. The seven partnerships serve learners preparing for careersin engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, business, and cybersecurity through a mix of creditbearing courses, non-credit microcredentials, and work-based learning experiences. To learn early insights from th

FAQs

What does the Innovation Grant phase of TTA 3.0 fund?

It supports business-higher education collaborations that create new partnerships and pathways to AI-enabled jobs in Connecticut.

What delivery models does the Innovation Grant phase encourage?

It encourages innovation in delivery models including work-based learning, short-term stackable credentials, dual enrollment opportunities, and accelerated pathways for learners and workers.

What is the application due date and the grant period?

The grant period runs from September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027, and applications are due June 12, 2026.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Liam