Social impact organization Pursuit, leading employers and workforce development organizations to create worker-centered pathways, boosting economic mobility and national security
Grant funds training for 200+ underserved New Yorkers to secure high-paying roles in cybersecurity
New York, NY – November 20, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $2 million grant to Pursuit, a leading workforce development and social impact organization dedicated to transforming the lives of underserved New Yorkers through software engineer training and career development. This funding, provided through the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program, will enable Pursuit to build out its cybersecurity pre-apprenticeship program, preparing more than 200 low-income and underemployed New Yorkers for high-paying jobs in the critical field of cybersecurity over the next five years.
The Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program promotes worker-focused training programs that enable access to good-paying jobs in essential sectors. Cybersecurity is critical for resilient infrastructure and national security, and the New York City metro area is at the forefront of this challenge. With 20 million residents and a $2 trillion economy, the region depends on one of the most complex infrastructure networks in the world, making it uniquely vulnerable to cyberattacks. To modernize this infrastructure, enhance resilience, and meet the rapidly growing demand for cybersecurity professionals, it is essential to cultivate untapped talent from underserved communities.
The Pursuit cybersecurity pre-apprenticeship program is designed to address the significant talent gap in the cybersecurity field by creating equitable career pathways for individuals from underserved communities. With this funding, Pursuit is building out a dedicated cybersecurity track within its four-year Fellowship model, with one year of pre-apprenticeship training and three-year apprenticeship placements in cybersecurity roles supporting critical infrastructure resilience. U.S. DOL funding supports the pre-apprenticeship program that enables apprenticeship placements. Launched in early 2024, Pursuit’s pilot program has already placed Fellows into full-time cybersecurity apprenticeships at leading firms such as Blackstone and Red Canary, with starting salaries over $100,000.
“Cybersecurity is essential to safeguarding New York City's infrastructure and ensuring our future economic resilience,” said Jukay Hsu, co-founder and CEO of Pursuit. “This grant will allow us to expand our proven model of training underserved talent for high-demand tech careers and empower the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.”
Strengthening New York’s Workforce in Critical Sectors
Pursuit’s program will operate in collaboration with leading employers, including Blackstone, Ballistic Ventures, Con Edison, Red Canary, and the New York Jobs CEO Council, to ensure that Fellows are prepared for in-demand jobs across New York’s most vital industry sectors, including energy, finance, technology, and public services. These employers have committed to hiring program graduates, creating clear pathways from training to employment to long-term economic mobility and building the city’s cybersecurity workforce.
“Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing and most critical sectors of our economy,” said Jake Seid, General Partner at Ballistic Ventures. “Pursuit’s program will create the skilled workforce needed to protect New York’s infrastructure, while offering life-changing opportunities to local talent. We are excited to partner in this important initiative.”
"Cybersecurity is critical to our energy infrastructure as we maintain the reliable grid we have today while building the grid we need for the future,” said Jen Hensley, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Con Edison. “We are proud to support Pursuit’s efforts to develop the cybersecurity talent that will help keep New York’s energy grid safe, resilient and reliable in an increasingly digital world.”
“Blackstone is proud to continue our partnership with Pursuit in developing cybersecurity talent. Two of our current Cybersecurity Fellows have already demonstrated the immense potential of this program, and we are excited to continue meeting and mentoring Pursuit graduates. This grant will help bridge the talent gap in cybersecurity, while also opening doors for individuals from untapped talent pools,” said Adam Fletcher, Senior Managing Director of Technology and Innovations and Chief Security Officer at Blackstone.
“At Red Canary, we know that strong cybersecurity defenses are built by strong teams. Our partnership with Pursuit allows us to hire talented Fellows who are committed to protecting businesses from ever-evolving cyber threats. We look forward to bringing more of these skilled professionals into our ranks,” said Joe Moles, Chief Technology Officer at Red Canary.
“By investing in the city's apprenticeship infrastructure, we can accelerate more talent into in-demand, family-sustaining cybersecurity careers,” said Kiersten Barnet, Executive Director of the New York Jobs CEO Council. “Earn-and-learn models drive economic mobility forward, and Pursuit’s cybersecurity pre-apprenticeship initiative allows us to create a robust talent pipeline with the skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Securing New York’s Future for All
This DOL funding will contribute to the security of New York’s critical infrastructure and uplift individuals from communities often left behind in the digital economy. In addition to technical training, Pursuit and its partners are addressing systemic barriers that have historically prevented underserved communities from accessing high-quality jobs. Working together with the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development and organizations like the New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC), New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP) and Urban Upbound, Pursuit will ensure that worker voices are elevated in the design and implementation of the program, focusing on holistic career development rather than short-term job placements. This approach aligns with the broader goal of building lasting economic mobility for New Yorkers, particularly for those from marginalized backgrounds.
"As the leading voice of New York's workforce development community, NYCETC is committed to amplifying worker voices and empowering underserved communities. Pursuit's innovative approach to cybersecurity training reflects these values by equipping individuals with the skills and support needed to thrive in critical, growing industries. We are proud to advise them on strategies that not only position New Yorkers at the forefront of protecting our critical infrastructure, but also catalyze economic mobility for communities that have been historically marginalized," said Gregory J. Morris, CEO of the New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC).
“Cybersecurity represents one of the most rapidly expanding industries today, and it is imperative that initiatives such as Pursuit’s prioritize the unique needs of workers, particularly those from historically underserved communities. We are thrilled to collaborate with Pursuit to ensure that their Fellows not only secure meaningful, high-quality employment but are also equipped with the skills and support necessary for sustained, long-term career advancement,” said Christopher Nardone, Executive Director of the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP).
“Urban Upbound has worked alongside Pursuit for years to ensure that local communities have access to economic mobility. This cybersecurity program is another key step in connecting residents from our hardest-to-reach neighborhoods with the high-paying jobs of the future, and I’m proud to continue our partnership,” said Bishop Mitchell Taylor, Co-founder and CEO of Urban Upbound.
“We are thrilled that Pursuit has been awarded this grant, which will position 200 economically disadvantaged New Yorkers as the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and a chance to contribute to and benefits from our City’s prosperity,” said Abby Jo Sigal, Executive Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development. “Pursuit’s pre-apprenticeship program aligns with the City’s moonshot goal to expand the number of apprenticeships to 30,000 by 2030 to ensure New Yorkers succeed in the jobs of today and the future, employers can tap the talent they need to prosper, and our economy can become more inclusive and thrive.”
For more information about Pursuit and its cybersecurity initiatives, visit www.pursuit.org.
Note: Pursuant to Public Law (Pub.L.) 118-47, Division D, Title V, Section 505, U.S. DOL is funding 64% of project costs with their $2,000,000 and the remaining $1,117,844, 36% of costs, is covered through non-federal sources.
Media Contact
Andrew Tein, Head of Strategic Partnerships & Operations, External Affairs, Pursuit
andrew@pursuit.org | Tel: +1 201 273 4129
