Maryland Secures AI Grants to Improve SNAP, Medicaid, Unemployment Services
Maryland Secures AI Grants to Improve SNAP, Medicaid, Unemployment Services
Publish Date: 2026-01-05 15:45:00
Source Domain: www.governing.com
- Maryland secured over $2.6 million in grants to develop artificial intelligence tools to streamline access to public benefits such as food assistance, Medicaid, and unemployment services.
- The state received two grants from the Public Benefit Innovation Fund, a program by the nonprofit Center for Civic Futures, out of seven national awards and more than 400 applications from 45 states.
- Grants will be distributed over two years to support projects led by the Maryland Department of Human Services and the Maryland Department of Labor, in collaboration with other state agencies and research partners.
- The first grant, totaling $1.2 million, will fund AI tools to verify work requirements and improve access to programs like SNAP and Medicaid, developed as open-source modules for adaptation by other states.
- The second grant of $1.45 million will test AI tools for the Maryland Department of Labor to improve service delivery and help caseworkers navigate regulations and paperwork, including staff training simulators.
- AI tools will be subject to Maryland’s Responsible AI Policy, ensuring data privacy and security, and will be developed on a secure, private technology platform.
- The project aims to reduce barriers and improve efficiency, but the success and future of AI deployment will depend on project outcomes and analysis.
