Building Southern Virginia’s Future Through Community-Driven AI Innovation

The SOVA Innovation Hub is proud to announce that it has been awarded an OpenAI Foundation People-First AI Grant. The SOVA Innovation Hub was one of 208 nonprofits nationwide, and one of only four in Virginia, chosen from more than 3,000 applicants. This award underscores both the strength of Southern Virginia’s innovation-driven vision and the meaningful work already underway to advance that vision. 

With this support, the SOVA Innovation Hub will launch SOVA AI Connect in 2026. This new community-based initiative will be designed by and for Southern Virginians anchored at the SOVA Innovation Hub. SOVA AI Connect aligns with the mission of the SOVA innovation Hub to spark economic transformation in Southern Virginia.  

SOVA AI Connect will help people build AI literacy, confidence, and practical skills through hands-on workshops and demonstrations, civic innovation challenges, and workforce training.   The initiative will help people apply AI responsibly and creatively to strengthen local industries, improve services, and solve community challenges. This project will deepen the SOVA Innovation Hub’s ability to support community innovation and workforce development. 

The SOVA Innovation Hub was created in a partnership between Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation (MBC) and Microsoft TechSpark to inspire people to pursue entrepreneurship and develop digital skills. Through coworking, hands-on training, signature programs like RISE, EXCITE, and EVOLVE, and regional community outreach, the SOVA Innovation Hub brings together entrepreneurs, educators, students, and non-profit leaders to learn, collaborate, and grow.  

MBC has spent over two decades expanding broadband infrastructure and economic opportunity across Southern Virginia. Through the SOVA Innovation Hub, MBC supports programs that build digital skills, support entrepreneurship, and ensure that rural communities have access to the tools they need to thrive in a modern economy.  

“MBC invests in the SOVA Innovation Hub because we believe every community in Southern Virginia deserves the chance to participate fully in the digital economy,” said Tad Deriso, President & CEO, Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation. “This recognition from the OpenAI Foundation affirms the impact of that work and the potential of the people who call this region home. SOVA AI Connect will help residents build trust, skills, and confidence with AI—ensuring that emerging technology benefits our farms, schools, small businesses, and nonprofits in practical, meaningful ways.”

We look forward to launching SOVA AI Connect in partnership with the OpenAI Foundation and continuing to expand innovation capacity across Southern Virginia.  

To receive updates and announcements about SOVA AI Connect, please join the SOVA Innovation Hub newsletter and follow the SOVA Innovation Hub on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.