Program readying Maryland for thousands of cyber jobs heading to I-95 corridor
GLEN BURNIE, MD (March 24, 2011) – Congressman C.A. Dutch
Ruppersberger and Maryland Labor Secretary Alexander Sanchez today
promoted a new program to train future cyber workers, readying the
state for thousands of technical jobs heading to the I-95
corridor. The new program, called the “Pathways to Cybersecurity
Careers Consortium,” is operated by the Anne Arundel Workforce
Development Corporation with a $4.9 million federal grant. The
program aims to provide 1,000 new, dislocated or underemployed
workers and recently separated veterans with the training they
need to land jobs in the cyber industry.
The cybersecurity industry is projected to grow 41 percent in
the next 8 years, but is facing a critical shortage of workers. To
jobseekers, the program provides career counseling, occupational
training and certification as well as job placement assistance. To
local businesses, it provides pre-screened cyber professionals,
hiring incentives and tax credits.
“Maryland is poised to become the cyber capital of the world
and we must prepare a pipeline of qualified workers,”
Congressman Ruppersberger said. “These are high-quality,
high-paying careers that will help strengthen our local economy
and our national security. In this tough economy, I believe it is
more important than ever to provide Marylanders with the skills
they need so they can go back to work.”
“In order to compete in the new economy, we need to build the
best-equipped and most highly-trained workforce. Under Governor
O’Malley’s leadership and because of the partnerships state
government has forged with Congressman Ruppersberger and the rest
of our federal delegation, Maryland has made the necessary
investments in our human capital to recover more quickly than
other states,” Secretary Sanchez said. “Cybersecurity and BRAC
will create tens of thousands of jobs in Maryland. Partnerships
like the Pathways to Cybersecurity Careers Consortium, the
Skills2Compete initiative and other investments in workforce
development are creating a strong workforce for the future.”
Congressman Ruppersberger and Secretary Sanchez promoted the
program at the Maryland One-Stop Career Center in Glen Burnie,
which has been providing jobseekers with the tools necessary to
find a job in today’s economy. These include Internet access,
resume-writing help, an array of workshops, and free faxing,
copying and telephone use. The center has seen a spike in clients
since the recession began.
“The purpose of the Anne Arundel Career Centers is to provide
businesses with a skilled workforce that meets the demands of our
regional economy,” said Kirkland J. Murray, President and CEO of
Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation. “Occupational
training opportunities, such as the Pathways to Cybersecurity
program, give jobseekers the edge they need to be marketable in
today’s job market and get back to work.”
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