The grant will support the Cyber Workforce Accelerator program, funding the development and expansion of cyber ranges — secure platforms that simulate cyber networks and attacks — and support services designed to connect students with career opportunities.
In the grant’s three-year funding period, more than 1,100 students will have access to the cyber ranges, according to a news release from the office of the governor. The initiative includes a special focus on reaching under-represented groups, including women and people of color.
“Cyber ranges are an important contribution to one of Maryland's most powerful and innovative industry sectors and a major step toward making our economy more competitive, more robust, and more equitable,” Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson said in a public statement.
Several state agencies, including the Department of Labor and Gov. Wes Moore's office, jointly awarded the funding to the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) and Baltimore-based cybersecurity company BCR Cyber. It’s the first major project under the state's Talent Innovation Program, enacted earlier this year to drive innovative workforce development in high-growth sectors like cybersecurity.
However, it’s hardly the first time Maryland has supported cybersecurity training. The $1.8 million grant brings the total amount awarded to the Cyber Workforce Accelerator this year to $5.4 million, including both state and federal supports, according to a news release shared with Government Technology.
“This investment builds on $2 million we delivered earlier this year for equipment, labs and personnel to jumpstart the Maryland Association of Community College’s vision of equipping all 16 colleges to offer state-of-the-art cyber education while opening up opportunities for all to secure good-paying jobs,” Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen said in a news release from the office of the governor.
MACC and BCR Cyber already put $1 million from the state toward 10 cyber ranges in June. In addition to expanding these cyber ranges, the new funding will support the creation of a registered apprenticeship program for security operations center analysts, which are in short supply in the state, the news release said.
Other cybersecurity professionals are also in short supply. Maryland had more than 30,000 cybersecurity job openings in 2023, according to job marketplace data from Cyberseek, and did not have enough skilled workers to fill 1 in 4 of those open spots. The new funding will support partnerships between the colleges and Maryland’s 13 workforce boards to connect participants with jobs and career pathways, the news release said.
“Maryland’s robust cybersecurity ecosystem employs nearly three times as many workers as the national average, and our talent demand is even greater,” Sen. Katie Fry Hester said in a news release from the office of the governor. “The state recognizes the need and is investing in a talent pipeline that allows workforce development to quickly adapt with the needs of industry.”
