The funding, distributed in awards of up to $200,000 each, is part of the Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development (RAMPS) program, which aims to expand career pipelines and address the nation’s critical cybersecurity skills shortage.

“The RAMPS program brings together industry, educational and economic development participants to collectively build a skilled cybersecurity workforce that meets the unique needs of each community,” said Karen Wetzel, director of the NICE program at NIST.

Recipients include Kentucky Community and Technical College, which will receive $129,311 to serve the Big Sandy region of eastern Kentucky, and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), slated for $200,000 to strengthen cybersecurity expertise in Virginia’s energy sector. University of Houston, Wright State University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Tennessee, New Mexico Highlands University, University of Michigan and the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education also each secured awards ranging from $199,995 to nearly $200,000.

All nine projects are required to embed practical learning opportunities—internships, apprenticeships and hands‑on projects—into their curricula, moving beyond purely theoretical instruction to prepare students for immediate entry into the cybersecurity workforce.

With the new agreements, the RAMPS network now encompasses 55 communities across 26 states, reflecting NIST’s strategy of directing resources to localized initiatives. The agency’s broader effort includes a $20 million partnership with SRI International to launch a Quantum Manufacturing Engineering Center and the recent finalization of post‑quantum encryption standards, underscoring a long‑term commitment to both current and future cybersecurity challenges.

Officials expect the expanded training capacity to help fill vacant cybersecurity positions, support critical infrastructure protection, and stimulate job growth in regions that have historically faced talent shortages.