A Commerce Department agency plans to award approximately $1 million in grants for up to eight nonprofit organizations to support cybersecurity education and workforce development in local communities.The department said Thursday the Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate grant program is part of its Skills for Business initiative and will support the National Institute of Standards and Technology‘s National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education.
“We are encouraging more employer engagement in local communities to influence education and training providers to develop job-driven training that provides the skills that businesses need,†said NICE Director Rodney Petersen.
RAMPS aims to facilitate collaboration between educators and employers with needs in cybersecurity talent in efforts to develop a workforce that meets industry requirements within the local or regional economy, the Commerce Department noted.
The department added RAMPS will work to align the needs of local business and nonprofit organizations with education and training objectives under NICE’s National Cybersecurity Workforce Framework as well as promote cybersecurity careers among students.
The opportunity is open for nonprofit U.S. organizations that plan to form a regional alliance with a K-12 school, local education agency, institution of higher education, college/university system or a local employer.
The deadline of applications is on July 12 with awards worth up to $200,000 each for a 15-month period.
