A same-day SBA webinar and grant announcement point small businesses to immediate AI efficiency gains and a clearer path to non-dilutive R&D funding.
Small-business owners looking for a quick operational win and a longer-term funding path have two SBA-linked opportunities to watch: a free online webinar on using AI tools for small business operations, and a new round of FAST grants designed to help startups compete for R&D funding.
AI training aimed at saving time in day-to-day operations
On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the South Carolina SBDC hosted an SBA Resource Partner webinar titled Using AI Tools for Small Business Operations. The event ran online from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT and was presented by Paul Featheringill, USC Region Director, SC SBDC. According to the event listing, the session focused on ways small business owners can use AI tools to streamline business operations and save time, with the stated goal of helping owners make smarter business decisions.
For BizTipper readers, that matters because the most immediate value of AI for small firms is usually not flashy automation; it is reducing time spent on admin, routine analysis, and repetitive decision support. A webinar framed around operations suggests practical use cases rather than abstract theory, which is the kind of training solo operators, service businesses, and local firms can act on quickly.
FAST grants point founders toward non-dilutive R&D funding
In a separate announcement the same day, the SBA said it awarded more than $8 million in FAST grants to 50 organizations through the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program. The agency said grant recipients are eligible for awards of up to $180,000 each. FAST is meant to provide small businesses and startups with specialized training, mentoring, and technical assistance to compete for research and development funding through America’s Seed Fund, which includes SBIR and STTR.
The business utility here is straightforward: if a company has a prototype, technical product, or research-driven concept, FAST-supported organizations can help it prepare stronger applications and navigate the path from research to commercialization. The SBA said these local awardees work to help businesses identify relevant opportunities, develop competitive applications, and move ideas toward commercial capability.
Why the timing matters for small firms outside tech hubs
The SBA said this year’s FAST program expanded its geographic footprint and now provides support across 49 states and Puerto Rico. It also said 43 FAST awardees from the 2026 cohort received an additional year of funding, and seven new entities were added. For founders in smaller markets, that wider reach matters because it increases the odds of finding nearby, person-to-person help instead of having to rely only on major coastal innovation centers.
The same SBA release said the awards follow President Trump’s reauthorization of SBIR and STTR through September 30, 2031. For technology startups, that gives the funding pipeline more runway. For non-technical small businesses, the practical lesson is different but still useful: AI adoption can start now with low-cost operational training, while R&D-oriented businesses can use FAST-backed support to pursue non-dilutive capital.
The two announcements together create a simple playbook. First, use AI to cut time and improve operations. Second, if your business is building something technical, use the FAST network to prepare for SBIR/STTR competition. One is an efficiency tool for today; the other is a funding channel for companies trying to turn research into revenue.
