BOSTON, Mass. – The Healey-Driscoll administration and Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MassTech) MassCyberCenter awarded $198,542 to four Massachusetts-based programs focused on preparing professionals for the cybersecurity workforce. MassTech provided the funds through the Alternative Cyber Career Education (ACE) Grant Program, a statewide effort to support young adults and retrain existing professionals with alternative options to traditional cybersecurity degree programs.
The awards will support training for more than 200 professionals across Massachusetts, ultimately increasing cyber employment statewide. Participating grantees will provide hands-on learning, like on-the-job training, to give participants the real-world experience required to obtain cybersecurity employment.
“Massachusetts is building a strong talent pipeline of cybersecurity professionals to protect businesses, local governments and residents against threats in the digital world,” said Massachusetts Interim Economic Development Secretary Ashley Stolba. “Our administration is dedicated to expanding opportunities beyond traditional degree programs to help create a highly skilled and dynamic cybersecurity sector statewide and ensure our state is economically viable and innovative for decades to come.”
“The ACE Program supports certification and training outside of traditional pathways, which have too often excluded people with the potential to contribute to the cybersecurity workforce,” said MassCyberCenter Director John Petrozzelli. “Cybersecurity can be technical, but it's also a broad field that demands skills like problem solving and strategic thinking. The ACE Program is reaching people with those strengths and unlocking a pool of untapped potential across Massachusetts."
The MassCyberCenter is providing the four ACE program awards to the following organizations: Burlington High School ($49,650), ISACA ($50,000), Per Scholas Greater Boston ($50,000) and Westfield Technical Academy ($48,892). Below is a further description of each award.
- Burlington High School (Burlington) - $49,650 to expand the cybersecurity component of its career-related experiential learning program for its students. The program is a capstone career experience guided by industry mentors, called the Flipped Internship. The grant will increase the number of students participating in the Flipped Internship career experience in cybersecurity to approximately 50 students and provide resources for students to receive industry credentials.
"Burlington is dedicated to preparing high school students for in-demand careers,” said Burlington Public Schools Superintendent Eric Conti. “Our district recognizes the importance of partnering with industry and offering career-focused opportunities that help students earn credentials and build career readiness skills."
- ISACA (Based in Illinois with the learners supported by this grant in Suffolk County) - $50,000 to expand its Digital Trust Workforce Inclusion Program to Massachusetts. This program will provide 25 learners from underrepresented backgrounds with ISACA’s industry-recognized Cybersecurity Fundamentals certificate training, job readiness training and assistance with job placement.
“ISACA is dedicated to developing cybersecurity pathways that are more accessible for all,” said ISACA Chief Membership and Marketing Officer Julia Kanouse. “Grant programs like this have life-changing impacts, and we are so grateful to the Healey-Driscoll administration and MassCyberCenter for partnering with us to transform careers through ISACA’s Digital Trust Workforce Inclusion Program.”
- Per Scholas Greater Boston (Cambridge) - $50,000 to expand its cybersecurity training program to enroll and train 90 Massachusetts residents, which represents an increase of 10 additional learners over FY25 levels (a 12.5 percent increase). Grant funds will also support approximately 65 of these 90 total learners in obtaining a cybersecurity industry certification.
"This support from the MassCyberCenter is instrumental in helping us expand access to cybersecurity careers for Greater Boston residents,” said Per Scholas Greater Boston Managing Director H. Kay Howard. “Per Scholas has a proven track record of driving economic mobility by preparing talent for high-demand tech roles. With this funding, we will build on that impact by training even more individuals and equipping them with the skills, industry certifications and hands-on experience they need to launch meaningful tech careers.”
- Westfield Technical Academy (Westfield) - $48,892 to run a U.S. Air Force cybersecurity summer camp, providing cybersecurity industry certifications to 65 students in its IT Program and supporting cybersecurity co-op placements for certified students.
“The ACE program, sponsored by the MassCyberCenter, is an incredible opportunity for students to gain the necessary skills and knowledge in the ever-evolving cybersecurity field,” said Westfield Technical Academy Career Technical Education Director Taloumis. “The industry-recognized credentialing provides students with a competitive edge as they advance into the workforce or post-secondary education.”
About the MassCyberCenter
The MassCyberCenter promotes the Massachusetts cybersecurity ecosystem by working to build a strong cyber talent pipeline and to strengthen the defense of local communities. The MassCyberCenter works with cities, towns, universities and the private sector to build cyber awareness, institute best practices, grow future workforce talent, and create a more powerful cyber defense force to guard against future threats. Learn more at masscybercenter.org.
###