OPENING LINES A VARIETY OF FUNDING SOURCES CAN HELP THE PUBLIC SECTOR DEVELOP ITS TECH WORKFORCE Source: americancityandcounty.com, Michael Keating, First published November 27th, 2024 Governments are expanding their IT labor pools. One example is IT security. Public agencies will grow their information security analyst workforces by 23% through 2033, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics (BLS). Staffers with this job title plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. Across all industries, employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 33% from 2023 to 2033,“much faster than the average for all occupations,” says the BLS. Will governments be up to the challenge and successfully recruit all of those needed professionals? One organization that may be able to aid in finding and certifying top candidates is the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). The organization serves the global IT/tech industry, and is the certifying body of IT professionals. Robert Owens, director, funding research and analysis at CompTIA, explains how his group can help: “CompTIA is always on the lookout for opportunities to provide resources to our customers, including those in federal, state and local governments.” He says several sources can help local governments secure funding to aid in developing a quality IT workforce: “Funding is available from a variety of sources, such as the governor’s office and each state’s department of commerce. CompTIA updates its funding landing page monthly, or whenever a new funding opportunity arises that could benefit our customers, whether at the federal, state or local level.” Owens adds: “For specific questions or requests, individuals can reach out to CompTIA at Funding@CompTIA.org.” Owens says local governments have several options to secure funding that can aid in IT workforce development. These include: FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS Local governments can apply for federal and state grants specifically designed for education and workforce development. Programs like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provide funding for training programs. Education-specific grants: Agencies should look for and apply for grants from the U.S. Department of Education or other government agencies that focus on STEM and IT education. STEM is an acronym for the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Public-private partnerships: Owens urges local governments to collaborate with tech companies. He explains: “Partner with technology companies 13 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 12
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