The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded more than $1.7 million through nine cooperative agreements to strengthen the cybersecurity workforce across eight states. The awards, worth up to $200,000 each, will support educational and community organizations working to address the ongoing shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals.
The agreements will be administered by NICE, a NIST-led program that brings together government, academia and industry to advance cybersecurity education and workforce development. The selected organizations will lead Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) projects designed to align local workforce needs with education and training objectives based on the NICE Framework.
The projects will focus on regional cybersecurity workforce requirements and provide practical learning opportunities, including internships, apprenticeships and hands-on projects, to help develop job-ready cybersecurity professionals.
The selected organizations will lead Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development (RAMPS program) initiatives. RAMPS projects aim to align education and training with the workforce needs of local businesses and nonprofits using guidance provided by the NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework). Their core goals are to increase the pipeline of students pursuing cybersecurity careers, train more Americans for middle-class jobs in cybersecurity and stimulate local economic development and job growth.
“The RAMPS program brings together industry, educational and economic development participants to collectively build a skilled cybersecurity workforce that meets the unique needs of each community,” said Karen Wetzel, director of the NICE program at NIST. “These projects aim to provide long-term impact, helping to grow local economies while protecting against risks in cyberspace.”
Many of the RAMPS projects include curriculum development and provide education and training at the high school, college or professional levels. Others offer practical learning opportunities such as internships, apprenticeships or hands-on projects. Additional efforts include hosting workshops, boot camps, competitions or hackathons. All projects establish community-based partnerships to develop cybersecurity career pathways that address local workforce needs.
With the newly awarded cooperative agreements, the total number of Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) communities will reach 55 across 26 states. Florida Atlantic University received $200,000 to serve Palm Beach and Broward counties and the Treasure Coast counties of Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River in Florida, while Kentucky Community and Technical College received $129,311 to serve the Big Sandy region of Eastern Kentucky, including Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin and Pike counties.
The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) received $200,000 to serve Virginia, while New Mexico Highlands University received $200,000 to serve Northern New Mexico. The Regents of the University of Michigan received $200,000 to serve the Great Lakes region of Michigan.
The Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education received $199,995 to serve Southwest Ohio, while the University of Houston received $199,735 to serve Houston, Texas. The University of Tennessee received $199,714 to serve East and Central Tennessee, and Wright State University received $199,889 to serve Southwest Ohio.
