# Central Texas College Launches Cybersecurity Training

Central Texas College has launched a new cyber range facility in Killeen, Texas, funded by a **$20,000 Carl D. Perkins federal grant** and supplemented by a **$50,000 institutional investment**. This initiative provides hands-on cybersecurity training to students, addressing the critical workforce shortage in cybersecurity professionals within Texas. The program includes partnerships with regional educational institutions and plans to expand training access to local high school students, supporting regional workforce development and pipeline growth.

- The federal grant funding highlights opportunities for educational institutions to leverage Perkins grants for cybersecurity workforce training programs.
- Procurement professionals should note the growing demand for cybersecurity training infrastructure and related educational technology investments.
- Contractors specializing in cybersecurity training solutions, simulation environments, and educational services may find emerging opportunities in regional and federal workforce development initiatives.
- This development underscores the importance of collaboration between educational institutions and government programs to meet cybersecurity workforce needs, signaling potential for expanded grant-funded projects in this sector.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Education, Information Technology
**Topics:** Cybersecurity
**Published:** September 24, 2026

### Government Entities
- Carl D. Perkins Federal Grant Program

### Key Quotes
> There is a need for 42,500 cybersecurity professionals in Texas alone, and that is a number that is published at the federal level by the NSA.
> — Mark Sorres, President, Fayetteville Technical Community College

> This gives you a chance to really get your hands on, learn, and actually apply it in a situation that I feel is more realistic than what you would normally get in a school environment.
> — Jimel Drayton, Student

### Sources
- [Central Texas College opens new cyber range, trains students on cybersecurity](https://www.kxxv.com/news/local-news/in-your-neighborhood/bell-county/killeen/central-texas-college-opens-new-cyber-range-to-train-students-for-growing-cybersecurity-workforce-demand) - KXXV