Yeshiva University Wins $500K Grant for AI Training

Yeshiva University just landed $500,000 in federal funding to teach artificial intelligence skills to the people who need them most: small business owners trying to grow and high school students preparing for their futures.

The grant, secured by Senator Chuck Schumer in the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act, will fund hands-on AI training through YU Global, the university's technology and workforce development division. The program launches this year in Washington Heights, where Yeshiva University has deep roots in the community.

Small business owners will learn to use AI for marketing, bookkeeping, and customer management. High school seniors will graduate with real experience using the same AI tools reshaping the modern workplace. Both tracks focus on practical applications, not theory, using live data and participant feedback to improve the curriculum as it grows.

"I'm proud to deliver this funding to help New York's small business owners and high school students," Schumer said. He emphasized that expanding AI education now will help the Washington Heights community succeed as the economy changes.

Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, Yeshiva University's president, said the program ensures that technological progress benefits entire communities, not just tech insiders. By teaching practical AI skills locally, the university is creating real opportunity and preparing the next generation to lead with both innovation and purpose.

Danielle Wozniak, YU's Vice President for Global Strategy, explained why small business training matters so much. When small and medium businesses succeed, they improve lives for generations, which aligns perfectly with the university's mission.

The Ripple Effect

This program does more than teach software skills. It's addressing a critical gap: as AI transforms industries, many entrepreneurs and young people risk being left behind simply because they lack access to training.

By bringing AI education directly into Washington Heights, Yeshiva University is democratizing technology skills that were once available mainly through expensive bootcamps or elite universities. Small business owners who master these tools can compete with larger companies, reach more customers, and operate more efficiently.

The high school students graduating from this program won't just understand AI in theory. They'll have hands-on experience that makes them immediately valuable to employers or gives them the confidence to launch their own ventures.

A half-million dollars is creating a future where opportunity isn't limited by zip code or income level.