The funding was secured with the support of U.S. Representative Kathy Castor.
TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough College has received $250,000 in federal community project funding to launch an Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center to prepare students for technology‑driven careers in the Tampa Bay region.
The funding was secured with the support of U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor.
College officials say the new center will expand access to artificial intelligence education, enhance classroom technology and help strengthen the region’s growing talent pipeline. Tampa Bay, ranked by Commercial Café as Florida’s third‑best tech hub and 18th nationwide, has been rapidly developing as a center for innovation.
Artificial intelligence is also a key priority in the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council’s “Future Ready: Tampa Bay” strategic plan, which identifies AI as central to the area’s long‑term economic competitiveness.
“We are very thankful to Congresswoman Kathy Castor for her unwavering support of Hillsborough College,” Dr. Ken Atwater, the college’s president, said. “This funding represents a significant investment in our students and educators as we expand our artificial intelligence education and workforce preparation through the implementation of the Innovation Center.”
Leaders at Hillsborough College say the investment directly aligns with regional workforce goals, particularly in technology, defense, healthcare, and financial services — industries increasingly shaped by AI‑driven tools and processes.