Something is stirring across Oregon.
From state agencies and employers to community colleges, universities, nonprofits, and workforce organizations, a growing coalition is coming together around a shared question: How can Oregon prepare an AI-ready workforce?
The timing could not be more important.
Our state’s unemployment rate stood at 5.2% in June 2026, above the national average. The 2026 Oregon Talent Assessment highlighted gaps in workforce readiness, employability skills, and digital fluency, calling for closer alignment between K-12, higher education, workforce training, and industry needs.
That is why Link Oregon supports the vision behind ONWARD, a newly submitted NSF proposal under the “AI Ready America” initiative to establish an Oregon AI Coordination Hub and is proud to serve on its advisory board.
“Oregon has a lot of groups invested in AI, but the efforts are somewhat disconnected,” said Dr. Marina Denny, Associate Vice Provost for Engagement at Oregon State University and principal investigator for ONWARD. “We need coordination from multiple angles — helping Oregon’s students move from AI literacy to proficiency long before they enter the workforce; connecting the existing workforce to upskilling and reskilling resources; and caring for all residents of the state to ensure access to not just AI technologies but also relevant economic opportunities.”
Dr. Marina Denny
A Truly Statewide Effort
ONWARD is not a single-institution initiative. More than 170 organizations responded to the coalition’s statewide AI-readiness survey, and 41 submitted letters of collaboration. Collectively, participants serve 94 urban, 88 rural, and 31 frontier communities, making this one of Oregon’s most geographically inclusive AI-readiness efforts to date.
The leadership team—represented by the Technology Association of Oregon, Oregon State University, HECC, Oregon STEM, and Mt. Hood Community College—reflects the proposal’s core philosophy: Oregon needs to prioritize and activate statewide collaboration over isolated efforts.
Building an AI-Fluent Workforce
The proposal arrives as Oregon makes meaningful investments in advanced technology talent. In 2025, the State announced a $10 million investment in AI workforce development through a partnership with NVIDIA.
Higher education momentum is also building rapidly:
- Oregon Tech launched the state’s first Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence.
- Oregon State University became the first institution nationwide to offer both master’s and doctoral degrees in AI.
- University of Oregon expanded computer science pathways with introductory AI and machine learning coursework.
ONWARD will bring industry, public sector, K-12, higher education, and community partners together to share
resources, opportunities, and expertise while building bridges across siloed initiatives.
“It is time to remove some of those silos and for every institution to think more broadly about how to collaborate statewide versus thinking solely about individual priorities,” noted Dr. Denny. “Convening and facilitating conversations across the state is what we at OSU do best. No single entity can achieve this vision on their own.”
A Centralized Entry Point for AI Readiness Efforts
One of ONWARD’s most compelling ideas is the creation of an AI Learning and Resource Navigator: a statewide hub connecting learners, educators, employers, agencies, entrepreneurs, and communities with AI training, tools, technical assistance, and support.
Rather than creating another standalone program, the Navigator helps Oregonians discover existing opportunities, identify gaps, and connect with regional partners. This coordinated infrastructure is critical to ensure equitable access for rural and frontier communities, where the digital divide risks expanding into an AI divide.
Looking Ahead
Oregon has already demonstrated what statewide collaboration can accomplish. The recent NSF Regional Innovation Engine award for Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology (FAST) —up to $160M over 10 years—brought together nearly 100 partners.
ONWARD builds on that foundation. If funded, it will deliver a shared strategy and a coordinated hub that aligns education, workforce development, innovation, and economic opportunity to get Oregon AI-ready.
Stay tuned for updates as NSF funding decisions for the AI-Ready America initiative move forward!