Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation Awards $30,000 to the AI Academy at the Charleston Learning Center

Charleston Digital is pleased to announce a $30,000 grant from the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation in support of the AI Academy at the Charleston Learning Center (CLC). The grant is awarded to the CDC Education Foundation over a one-year term.

Since 2011, Charleston Digital's talent strategy recognizes that a technically literate and adaptable workforce is essential to the region's economic future. The AI Academy at the Charleston learning Center, launched in June 2026 after a pilot of the Collaborating with Agents series, extends that commitment through in-person, community-sourced classes and workshops for Tri-County residents at every level of experience. Its goal is to move people from anxiety about AI toward curiosity first, then competence, productivity, and eventually the confidence to lead others through the same journey.

The Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation grant funds support the Charleston Learning Center’s endeavor to bring accessible workshops, certificates and meetups for learners in the Tri-county region

“A workforce prepared for AI is not something a region builds one credential at a time. This grant lets us put practical instruction in front of significantly more residents, and it keeps the entry point free for the people who need it most," says Ernest Andrade, Executive Director of Charleston Digital.

Those looking for a place to start are encouraged to attend an upcoming Open House to learn more about the CLC’s AI curriculum register for the free Introduction to AI class. The AI Academy also offers intermediate-level classes such as Claude for Professionals, and advanced-level offerings for software engineers like the Coding with AI agents. Full schedules and registration are available HERE.