Free AI Training and $25K in Grants: How Long Island Small Businesses Can Cash In This Spring

Two major programs are handing Long Island small businesses free AI training and up to $20,000 in grants right now. The Google-funded AI Growth Academy at Stony Brook has an April 22 deadline, and the L.O.C.A.L. grant program is accepting applications for $5,000 awards across Nassau and Suffolk.

What Is the AI Growth Academy?

Stony Brook University and the Long Island Association partnered with Google.org to launch a free AI training program for small businesses with 20 or fewer employees. Fifty businesses will be selected for a hands-on program that runs from May 19 through September 29, 2026.

The training covers practical AI tools — how to use them for marketing, operations, customer service, and decision-making. It's not theoretical. Businesses that complete the program also get a $5,000 implementation grant to put what they learned into action.

Who Can Apply for the AI Academy?

You need to be a small business with 20 or fewer full-time employees, located in Nassau or Suffolk County. The business owner or a key decision-maker needs to commit to the full training schedule. Applications close April 22, 2026.

Apply through the Long Island Association website or Stony Brook's program page.

What Is the L.O.C.A.L. Grant Program?

The L.O.C.A.L. (Lifting Our Communities and Lives) Small Business Grant Program offers $5,000 grants to 40 businesses across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. On top of that, two grand prizes of $20,000 each — one for Nassau, one for Suffolk — go to businesses that have experienced significant financial hardship.

The program is backed by Optimum Business as founding sponsor.

How Do I Apply for the L.O.C.A.L. Grant?

Eligibility requires 10 or fewer full-time employees and a community-facing storefront. Grand prize applicants need to submit a video and go through an interview. Applications are open now through the Long Island Association website — winners will be announced later in 2026.

Can I Apply to Both?

Yes. The programs have different eligibility requirements and different funding sources. If your business has 10 or fewer employees, you could potentially land the AI training plus a $5,000 completion grant AND a separate $5,000 L.O.C.A.L. grant. That's $10,000 in funding plus free professional development. Small businesses across Long Island are already finding new ways to capitalize on redevelopment and grant opportunities, and entrepreneurs in Huntington are among those leading the charge.

Sources: Stony Brook University, Long Island Association