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From 2018 through 2025, I worked for the State of Florida and supported disaster response and recovery efforts for every hurricane that made landfall in the Sunshine State. During this time, Florida faced eight hurricanes and nine tropical storms. From the profound damage that Hurricane Michael inflicted on northwest Florida’s timber industry, to the catastrophic southeast flooding caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, I saw these events capture national attention and garner short-term support at the federal and state levels. I also saw the realities that many of these communities faced as the media attention faded and resources ran dry.

This Administration recognized the importance of winning the global AI race through America’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. American workers are critical to securing America’s leadership in AI. That’s why the Administration directed the Department of Commerce, through the Economic Development Administration (EDA), to pilot new programs addressing AI’s impact on workforce skills. To that end, EDA has launched the new AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program. This innovative effort will support hard-working Americans as they prepare for a future shaped by AI.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is taking important and necessary steps to modernize key operations to best deliver on our mission. These comprehensive actions will launch EDA forward to meet modern challenges and bring our operations in line with EDA’s recent reauthorization.

As communities’ needs have evolved over time with changes in circumstances, technologies and industries, so too must EDA evolve. That is why we are shifting funds from lower-priority programs to help communities, businesses, and workers reap the rewards as Artificial Intelligence (AI) begins to permeate more and more facets of our lives and jobs.