UNG expands access to AI tools for rural businesses

The University of North Georgia (UNG) plans to provide 34 rural north Georgia business owners with agentic AI tools and practical training aimed at improving competitiveness, protecting jobs and supporting growth. The effort focuses on helping Lumpkin County businesses apply the technology to everyday operations rather than simply react to changes in the workplace.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant program is supporting the initiative with a $97,300 grant. Five farmers/ranchers will be included among the participants, and participating businesses will receive $1,000 apiece in professional AI tools, along with training on their use. UNG’s partnership with Intel includes an Agentic AI certificate focused on responsible AI development and no-code workflows that can automate complex tasks.

The initial cohort starts in January, with additional cohorts launching in the following months. Participant Brian Shapiro, owner of KMS Renovations in Dahlonega, expects the support to help with marketing, customer communication, scheduling, bookkeeping and business planning. The initiative also provides technical assistance, with the goal of making useful AI capabilities accessible to working Georgians without programming expertise.