City of West Palm Beach launches AI Business Essentials Workshop to help local businesses achieve practical real-world results

West Palm Beach, Florida – Local entrepreneurs and small business owners in West Palm Beach will soon have the opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence can improve everyday business operations. City officials have announced a new hands-on training event designed to show participants how AI can move beyond theory and become a practical tool for productivity and growth.

The initiative, organized through the city’s Office of Small Business Programs, will culminate in the AI Business Essentials Workshop scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2026. The program will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at West Palm Beach City Hall Flagler Gallery, located at 401 Clematis Street.

City leaders say the workshop will serve as the closing event of Small Business Week, offering local professionals a chance to gain practical insights into how artificial intelligence can strengthen business operations. Rather than focusing on general discussions about emerging technology, the session will emphasize real-world applications and implementation strategies.

Organizers describe the event as a curated, interactive experience meant to equip entrepreneurs, startups, and community organizations with tools they can use immediately. Participants will learn ways to incorporate AI into everyday tasks, from improving customer outreach to managing workflows more efficiently.

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A central theme of the workshop will be prompt engineering, a skill that has become increasingly important in the world of AI-powered tools. Prompt engineering involves crafting clear and effective instructions that help artificial intelligence systems generate useful and reliable responses.

Through guided exercises and demonstrations, attendees will explore how properly designed prompts can improve accuracy, boost efficiency, and produce more meaningful results when working with AI technologies.

By the end of the session, participants are expected to walk away with practical methods for integrating AI into their businesses. Organizers say these tools can help companies streamline routine tasks, reduce operational costs, strengthen marketing campaigns, and support better decision-making through data insights.

To help attendees apply what they learn, the workshop will provide several resources designed for immediate use. Each participant will receive an AI Prompt Playbook, a collection of ready-to-use templates tailored for business tasks, and a step-by-step checklist designed to help organizations begin adopting AI tools in their daily operations.

Leading the session will be technology executive Dominique D. Andrews, CEO of ACE Solutions Inc. & Associates. Andrews brings more than three decades of experience working with data workflows and system architecture, along with over ten years designing cloud-based business solutions.

In addition to his professional background, Andrews has been recognized as a Top 100 Technology Innovator & Influencer and holds an Applied Generative AI Certificate from the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering.

City officials say bringing experienced industry leaders into local training initiatives helps ensure that small business owners receive practical, high-quality guidance that reflects current technology trends.

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The workshop also reflects the city’s broader strategy to strengthen the local business environment. By offering educational programs and skill-building opportunities, officials hope to help entrepreneurs remain competitive in a rapidly changing digital economy.

The City of West Palm Beach says it remains focused on expanding economic opportunities, supporting small business participation in city programs, and providing tools that allow local businesses to thrive.

Registration for the workshop is currently open, though city officials note that attendance is limited due to the hands-on format of the session.

Those interested in attending or learning more about the program are encouraged to contact Sandra Hammerstein at the city’s Office of Small Business Programs for additional information.