Looking for a career in cybersecurity? Wake Tech can soon offer more help.

Wake Tech, along with support from Wake County Economic Development and the Capital Area Workforce Development Board, plan to launch a program for “at least” 450 people to train for jobs in cybersecurity after winning a $3.9 million federal grant.

“Major news,” the community college tweeted – complete with a “high five” video clip from Conan.

Wake tech’s grant will fund “Project SECURE.”

The grant was among some $150 million announced Monday under the Obama Administration and U.S. Department of Labor’s “TechHire” initiative.

Another North Carolina program, this one in Kenansville, secured a $4 million grant.

“Having a pipeline of tech talent can be an important factor in bringing new jobs to local economies, facilitating business growth, and lifting more local residents into the middle class,” the White House said. “These grants will enable more communities to expand their own local tech sectors.”

Here’s a summary of the Wake Tech program:

  • Raleigh, North Carolina. Project SECURE: Training Youth and Workers in Cybersecurity to Meet Growing Demand ($3.9 million)

With support from Wake County Economic Development, the Capital Area Workforce Development Board, and employers like IBM, Project SECURE aims to train at least 450 young adults and front-line workers with in-demand cybersecurity skills. Led by Wake Technical Community College, Project SECURE will work to prepare individuals for high-skill, high- demand jobs

Here’s a summary of the Kenansville program:

  • Kenansville, NC. North Carolina TechHire: Hiring Minority Youth, Single Parents, NonNative Speakers and Other Disadvantaged Groups into Internships and Jobs ($4 million)

The North Carolina TechHire Program (NCTP) aims to train 400 individuals, including out-ofschool minority youth, those from low-income backgrounds, and single parents, for jobs as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), pharmacy technicians, welders and IT data technicians. NCTP incorporate education and training with paid internships and job placements with participating employers in IT, advanced manufacturing and health care—helping individuals to overcome employment barriers and supporting employer goals. With a number of partnerships with local workforce investment boards, community colleges, local governments and employers, NCTP will be able to help these underrepresented groups gain entry into well-paying tech-related careers, as well as simultaneously helping employers identify and hire skilled workers.

For more about the program and grants, see:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/06/27/fact-sheet-expanding-tech-economies-communities-across-country