CANFIELD — The Mahoning County Career and Technical Center (MCCTC) has completed a microcredential training program funded for workforce development by the Ohio Department of Development for $498,000, resulting in more than 166 Ohioans completing the Cybersecurity Essentials certification course.

The initiative was delivered through a strategic partnership with MCCTC and SWI Security and Web

Infrastructure Institute. The Individual Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP), in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation is a program designed to allow Ohioans to participate in a training program while providing participants at no cost with industry-recognized credentials and practical, job-ready skills.

Through this grant and resulting program, MCCTC in partnership with SWI Security and Web

Infrastructure Institute, expanded access to in-demand cybersecurity training for students, adult learners, and displaced or transitioning workers across the region. Participants who completed the Cybersecurity Essentials Certification Course gained foundational knowledge in the field of cybersecurity, focusing on fundamental concepts, principles, and practices including cyber threats, defense mechanisms and the best practices for protecting information and systems aligned with current industry standards.

“Investing in cybersecurity training is an investment in the future of our workforce and our regional economy,” stated Mary Mihalopoulos, director of the Adult Career Center, MCCTC. “Through partnerships with industry and state leadership, MCCTC is helping build a talent pipeline to gain relevant in demand skills that benefits individuals, employers, and communities throughout the Mahoning Valley and across Ohio.”