Cyber Innovation Center Receives $3-million Grant

A nice chunk of change for Bossier City's Cyber Innovation Center.

The facility has received a $3-million grant from the Department of Homeland Security. It's designed to expand nationwide cybersecurity education and training efforts to 36 states, which will help communities across the U.S. meet their growing need for a cyber workforce.

"We have developed a robust capability that empowers teachers to engage their students in entirely new ways," said CIC Vice President G.B. Cazes in a news release. "Through our cyber education and training model, we will reach over 2-million students and 15,000 teachers by 2020 -- significantly expanding the cyber interstate and the number of cybersecurity professionals entering the U.S. workforce."

CIC partners with universities, colleges, high schools and middle schools across the country to implement cybersecurity-focused education and professional development programs to produce highly-skilled, knowledge-based workers.

Letters of support have been pouring in to CIC from partners and communities across the country.

"CIC's library of curricula and training programs has an impact on the students in our school districts that is collosal," said Jerry Alamendarez, Superintendent of Colton Unified School District in San Bernardino, California. "Through our partnership together, we are opening the doors to a plethora of cybersecurity opportunities for the students in this community."

Educators can visit the Cyber Innovation Center's website to learn more about its curricula and programs, which are available online at no cost to K-12 teachers and administrators.