The southern arizona cybersecurity workforce alliance will strengthen the cybersecurity and IT workforce of the region by aligning education, training, and employer needs to produce work-ready,…

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded a $426,126 Cooperative Agreement (CFDA 11.620: Science, Technology, Business and/or Education Outreach) to AZ Cyber Initiative, Inc., effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027. Under this award, AZ Cyber Initiative will deliver comprehensive cybersecurity workforce development programming to high school students in rural Southern Arizona, including counties in Vail, Sunnyside, Cochise, and Santa Cruz. The program will provide hands-on educational services through intermediate cyber bootcamps, IBM SkillsBuild training, Google Cybersecurity Certificate courses, and paid capstone internships designed to equip students with industry-relevant credentials and job-ready competencies.

Beyond direct student training, the initiative will conduct regional employer-driven workforce gap analysis, expand K-12 and higher education partnerships, and establish a steering committee to ensure curriculum and internship alignment with industry needs. The program specifically targets underrepresented populations in STEM fields, including low-income families, with expected outcomes of increased awareness and skill acquisition among at least 80% of participating students, and 75% obtaining competencies for cybersecurity careers. No subawards are planned under this agreement. The initiative aims to create a sustainable cybersecurity talent pipeline that strengthens regional economic resilience and regional infrastructure protection capacity.

Activities

AZ cyber initiative will deliver hands-on cybersecurity education and workforce development through intermediate cyber bootcamps, IBM skillsbuild, google cybersecurity certificate courses, and paid capstone internships for high school students in southern arizona. The program will also conduct a regional employer-driven GAP analysis, expand k?12 and higher education partnerships, and form a steering committee to align curriculum and internships with industry needs.

Expected outcomes

The project anticipates increased awareness and skill acquisition among at least 80% of participating students, with 75% gaining the competencies needed to pursue careers in cybersecurity. Long-term, IT will create a sustainable cybersecurity talent pipeline by aligning student training with employer demand, increasing talent in the field, and preparing youth for critical roles in protecting national and regional infrastructure.

Intended beneficiaries

The primary beneficiaries are high school students from rural communities in vail, sunnyside, cochise, and santa cruz counties, including populations underrepresented in stem such low-income families. Local employers, public-sector agencies, and regional cybersecurity ecosystems will also benefit from a more highly skilled, and job-ready workforce.

Subrecipient activities

There are no planned subawards.