On Monday, more than 50 local small business owners gathered at the Lebanon Public Library for a free, intensive AI workshop hosted by Meta in partnership with the Boone County Chamber and the Boone County Economic Development Corporation (EDC). The event is part of Meta’s Small Business Community Accelerator program, brought to Central Indiana as Meta constructs a $10 billion data center investment in Lebanon. Indiana is home to over 530,000 small businesses, representing 99.4% of all businesses in the state. According to recent data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 82% of small businesses using AI say it helps them compete with larger companies, while 95% report that digital tools improve overall efficiency. Attendees received hands-on training focused on streamlining daily operations, scaling marketing efforts, and driving sustainable business growth. Alex Burgos, Public Affairs Director at Meta, stated the training shows small business owners how to turn AI tools into systems they use regularly. Sean Reaves, Executive Director of the Boone County Chamber of Commerce, noted the resource is provided free to members.