Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s downtown hub for business incubation and talent development, is launching a six-week artificial intelligence workshop series designed to help local businesses implement practical AI solutions.

The hands-on program begins Feb. 26 and is already drawing strong interest, with nine local businesses signed up to participate. Businesses can still reserve a spot.

Participants include Itty Bitty Fashion Truck, Bloom Wine & Floral and Arlington’s, among others. Throughout the workshop, business owners will identify operational bottlenecks and build AI-powered workflows to reduce manual work, automate repetitive tasks and improve marketing, communication and operations.

“This workshop is about meeting local businesses where they are and giving them practical tools they can apply immediately,” said Ben Hage, director of Innovate Springfield. “We want participants to leave with real systems in place that save time, improve efficiency and position their businesses for long-term growth.”

Unlike a traditional lecture series, the workshop is implementation-focused. Participants will leave with tools built and tested during the program, not just ideas.

The initiative also provides experiential learning opportunities for UIS students. Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a strategy course in the UIS College of Business and Management will partner with participating businesses to evaluate proposed AI solutions and, in some cases, assist with implementation and measurement.

The workshop will be held on Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m. on the third floor of Innovate Springfield’s downtown location in the Horace Mann building. The cost is $550 for nonmembers and $275 for Innovate Springfield members. While space is limited to maintain a personalized, hands-on experience, spots are still available.

For more information or to reserve a spot, visit the Innovate Springfield website.