Mass. Awards Nearly $200K to Cybersecurity Education Statewide

Massachusetts is investing $198,542 to train more than 200 residents for cybersecurity careers, with a focus on hands-on experience and alternative pathways that don’t require a traditional college degree.

Approved by the governor’s office and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s MassCyberCenter, the money will be distributed to four organizations through the Alternative Cyber Career Education (ACE) Grant Program, according to a recent news release.

The ACE Program distributes grants to organizations that could offer non-traditional training pathways for both young adults and current cybersecurity professionals, with the goal of broadening access to cybersecurity careers and training more people in the field.

Interim Economic Development Secretary Ashley Stolba said in a public statement that the objective is to build a talent pipeline to protect businesses, local governments and residents in an increasingly digital world.

“Our administration is dedicated to expanding opportunities beyond traditional degree programs to help create a highly skilled and dynamic cybersecurity sector statewide and ensure our state is economically viable and innovative for decades to come,” Stolba said.

The four recipients represent a mix of K-12 institutions, nonprofit training providers and professional organizations:

• Burlington High School received $49,650 to enhance its Flipped Internship program, a career-oriented learning initiative that connects students with industry mentors. The funding will allow approximately 50 students to participate in experiential learning programs in pursuit of industry-recognized credentials.
  
• ISACA, a global professional association, was awarded $50,000 to bring its Digital Trust Workforce Inclusion Program to Suffolk County. The initiative will serve 25 learners from under-represented backgrounds, offering them a cybersecurity training certificate from ISACA, job readiness coaching and placement support.
  “Grant programs like this have life-changing impacts,” ISACA’s Chief Membership and Marketing Officer Julia Kanouse said in a public statement.
  
• Per Scholas Greater Boston, a nonprofit focused on tech training for underserved communities, received $50,000 to expand its cybersecurity training efforts. The grant will help enroll 90 students — 10 more than last year — and support cybersecurity certifications for 65 of them.
  
• Westfield Technical Academy was awarded $48,892 to launch a cybersecurity summer camp in partnership with the U.S. Air Force and to support certification and co-op placements for 65 IT students. The program aims to give high school students early exposure to industry-standard credentials.

John Petrozzelli, director of the MassCyberCenter, reiterated in a public statement that accessible training and non-traditional paths to cybersecurity careers will be essential for filling much-needed jobs.

“Cybersecurity can be technical, but it's also a broad field that demands skills like problem solving and strategic thinking,” he said. “The ACE Program is reaching people with those strengths and unlocking a pool of untapped potential across Massachusetts.”

These investments in Massachusetts’ workforce reflect the state’s broader effort to formalize a cybersecurity strategy, as recently proposed legislation intends to do by mandating cybersecurity training for all public employees.

More information about the MassCyberCenter’s initiatives is available at masscybercenter.org.

Editor's note: This story was developed in collaboration with GPT-4 and reviewed and edited by CDE Editorial staff.