PURPOSE: THE HIGHLANDS ALLIANCE FOR CYBERSECURITY KNOWLEDGE (HACK) INITIATIVE WILL ESTABLISH AN EMPLOYER-LED REGIONAL CYBERSECURITY WORKFORCE ECOSYSTEM SERVING RURAL NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. THE PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION PATHWAYS, EXPAND EMPLOYER-CONNECTED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND INCREASE ACCESS TO WORKFORCE-ALIGNED TRAINING FOR STUDENTS AND INCUMBENT WORKERS, IMPROVING REGIONAL CYBERSECURITY WORKFORCE CAPACITY.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH THE NORTHERN NEW MEXICO CYBERSECURITY WORKFORCE COLLABORATIVE; DEVELOP A NICE FRAMEWORK-ALIGNED CYBERSECURITY PATHWAY LEADING TO NMHU'S BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE WITH A CYBERSECURITY CONCENTRATION; COORDINATE CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT AND TRANSFER PATHWAYS AMONG HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERS; EXPAND EMPLOYER-LED INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND OTHER WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES; CONDUCT REGIONAL OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT; ENGAGE EMPLOYERS AND WORKFORCE PARTNERS; COLLECT REGIONAL WORKFORCE DATA; AND DISSEMINATE PROJECT RESULTS THROUGH CONFERENCES AND WORKFORCE NETWORKS.EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL CYBERSECURITY WORKFORCE ECOSYSTEM WITH MORE THAN 15 ACTIVE PARTNERS, DEVELOP 3-5 CYBERSECURITY COURSES OR MODULES, ESTABLISH THREE TRANSFER AGREEMENTS OR MOUS, INCREASE EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT, PROVIDE WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE THAN 25 STUDENTS, REACH MORE THAN 250 STUDENTS, COUNSELORS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH OUTREACH, AND STRENGTHEN REGIONAL CYBERSECURITY WORKFORCE CAPACITY THROUGH COORDINATED EDUCATION AND EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE NORTHERN NEW MEXICO STUDENTS, INCUMBENT WORKERS SEEKING CYBERSECURITY SKILLS, K-12 STUDENTS, COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, REGIONAL EMPLOYERS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS INCLUDING HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NO SUBAWARDS.