Two Planning Grants Totaling $171,926 Approved in Region 6

February 12, 2025

The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administratively approved two planning grants in GO Virginia Region 6. The Region 6 Executive Committee had previously approved the two planning grants, totaling $171,926.00, to be submitted to DHCD at their December 12th, 2024 meeting. GO Virginia planning grants are awarded to planning and pilot projects which are intended to build regional capacity for project development and implementation. Regions are limited to allocating $250,000 per fiscal year towards planning grants, and each individual planning grant must not exceed $100,000 in the GO Virginia request.

Cyber Bytes Foundation| Cyber Titans Virginia Internship Program (Cyber Titans VIP)

The Cyber Bytes Foundation was awarded $99,826 in Region 6 per capita funds for their Cyber Titans Virginia Internship Program (Cyber Titans VIP) with $49,913 in match and $147,325.64 in leveraged funds. The pilot program will strategically develop Cyber Titans VIP as an internship program to prepare high school and college students, transitioning service members, and individuals seeking careers in cybersecurity. By collaborating with industry partners, educational institutions, and regional stakeholders, Cyber Bytes will design a training curriculum and certification pathway that aligns with current and evolving industry needs. The applicant will effectively plan and pilot Cyber Titans VIP, ensuring that participants are equipped with comprehensive skills that prepare them to excel in the Cybersecurity workforce and become leaders in their chosen specialties. Project outcomes includes the creation of a long-term cybersecurity internship program with curriculum and provide a model for work-based learning opportunities in the cyber space that can be scaled. The pilot phase of the project will create 20 internships.

RIVERE Ecological Center | Ecological Center and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Analysis

RIVERE Ecological Center was awarded $72,100 in per capita funds for their Rapp Smart River Initiative with $36,050 in match and $26,995 in leveraged funds. The planning grant will fund an economic analysis to measure the impact in the next 10 to 20 years. The study will be used to inform development of the virtual center, identify future investor partnerships, and to communicate the mission and outputs of the center to diverse audiences with a focus on potential occupants so that presale of available spaces can be achieved before construction is complete. The Project Outcome is an Economic analysis study which will be used to help develop an implementation effort.