AUGUSTA, Ga. \u2014 The next phase of a multimillion-dollar cybersecurity training center taking shape in downtown Augusta is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal recently announced an additional $35 million in funding for the Hull McKnight Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second building will be an incubator hub for technology startups and a training space for state cybersecurity initiatives and workforce development programs, The Augusta Chronicle reported .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The five-floor structure \u201cwill almost mirror the original building,\u201d said Calvin Rhodes, the state\u2019s chief information officer and the executive director of the Georgia Technology Authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both structures will share the center\u2019s 320-seat auditorium, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re excited about this,\u201d Rhodes said. \u201cThis is just huge for the state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phase two will cover 165,000 square feet, and construction is scheduled to begin immediately. Phase one, being built now, is 167,000 square feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phase two is expected to open in December 2018. Phase one is on track to open July 10, the Augusta newspaper reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rhodes said there are no immediate plans for a third phase of the center, but he noted that phase two signals that \u201cthere\u2019s a vision that the need for cybersecurity is going to grow\u201d and that there\u2019s a need in Augusta to support that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe protection of Georgia\u2019s citizens, businesses and institutions within the digital realm remains a paramount concern, and the demand for cybersecurity talent continues to exceed supply,\u201d Deal said in a statement. \u201cThis facility will encourage world-class collaboration between industry leaders, startup companies, academic institutions and government in the field of cybersecurity, and provide space for private sector entities to leverage the center\u2019s strategic resources.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phase two will provide space \u201callowing technology companies to establish fellowships, internships and co-op program opportunities for students and employees,\u201d according to the governor\u2019s office. It will also be a training facility for information security professionals employed by state and local governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The center is aligned with Augusta University\u2019s Cyber Institute and the university\u2019s recently launched School of Computer and Cyber Sciences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The center is aligned with Augusta University\u2019s Cyber Institute and the university\u2019s recently launched School of Computer and Cyber Sciences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":32564,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"8":{"categories":[],"primary_category":""}}},"categories":[106,29,32],"tags":[],"coauthors":[2755],"class_list":["post-11837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-brief","category-home","category-newsletters"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"4JCQBZCLCND47DOLOG3YX6OI4M","arc_canonical_url":"\/workforce\/education-training\/2017\/12\/04\/gov-deal-announces-expansion-of-cybersecurity-complex\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n