Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that his administration will make $20 million dollars available to create and expand cybersecurity and IT training opportunities for eligible middle-school, high-school, and college students.
The Florida Department of Education will work with The University of South Florida to administer the program which calls for the establishment of three regional partnerships to develop workforce education clusters in cybersecurity or cyber-related disciplines. Each region will be awarded no less than $5 million to help with teacher certification, faculty hires, and the equipment purchases needed to offer high-quality degree and certificate programs for Florida students.
The Governor said the funding will create job opportunities for students, and help protect Florida businesses from cyber threats, as well as maintain the integrity of elections in the state.
He made the announcement Wednesday morning during a news conference at the University of South Florida’s Center for Cybersecurity in Tampa.