The recipient entity's physical address:
           7600 Airline Highway Baton Rouge, La 70814

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           7600 Airline Highway Baton Rouge, La 70814

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  0429

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $1,375,000

What type of request is this?  Both

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Rinaldi Jacobs Jr
1562 Stacy Drive
Baton Rouge, La

Bridget Bryant
7625 Oak Fern Place
Baton Rouge, La 70811

Kayla Bryant
7625 Oak Fern Place
Baton Rouge, La 70811

Shuneki 'Nikki' Pea-Williams
4212 Rue De Valeur Place
Baker, La 70714

Deanna Smith
18011 Pine Ridge Dr
Prairieville, La 70769

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Creating and implementing a high school Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP) for a Cyber Security P-tech pilot program.

Our team would like high school students to be able to graduate from high schools in East Baton Rouge Parish to be equipped with training and education that produces the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to work as entry-level security analysts as defined by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (N The federal government currently has up to $14 million dollars* of grant money available right now. Additionally, on March 6th, 2024 President Biden issued an executive order on scaling and expanding the use of registered apprenticeships*.

Our organization would like to provide a collaborative effort with other for-profit, nonprofit, and government agencies to:

- Keep and encourage our bright and talented students to stay home in Louisiana
- Create a revolving door of high-wage job candidates in a future-proof industry
- State and Local Government Agencies will be the first to benefit from the high school seniors in the program in an apprenticeship that provides progressive growth and regular onboarding of staff who can support these agencies
- Government Agencies will also get the first chance to offer the best and brightest candidates that the agency favors a job opportunity to stay in the state
- Secondary Education programs will have better-prepared students to excel in their educational standing and likelihood for success
- Certifying students upon graduation can go directly into the workforce with multiple years of real-world experience
- The pilot program allows us to create a training system and working programs that can be expanded around the state
- Having a purposeful, tech-based initiative, gives validity to the infrastructure needs to bring "broadband" internet access to rural areas which was recently declared on March 14th, 2024 by the FCC to increase 4 fold to 100/20*
-Target ROTC students to encourage them to pursue a cyber apprenticeship in one of the eight government program areas
- Provide our nonprofit community with cyber security knowledge and protection for the economic and community development work being done
- Access to additional support by our nonprofit organization to provide knowledge and life skills to program participants in areas such as personal and business finance, business development, health, and housing programs


(*sourced)

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $375,000
          Professional Services. . . $180,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $620,000
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $50,000
          Operating Services. . . . $120,000
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $30,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Yes

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          RWC Real Women Connecting is proposing a program that falls within the federal Industry Recognised Apprenticeship Programs (IRAP) where High School Students graduating from High Schools in East Baton Rouge Parish will be equipped with training and education that produces the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to work as entry-level security analysts as defined by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS).

Government agencies of East Baton Rouge Parish and the state will benefit from the work of seniors graduating from the program in an apprenticeship that provides progressive growth and regular onboarding of staff who can support the parish agencies by securing their networks and identifying threats.

Agencies may be eligible for Federal DOL funds by establishing an Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP)

Agencies benefit from the low cost of qualified labor that can constantly be replenished

Secondary Education Programs will have qualified and prepared students to excel in their educational standing when transitioning after high school graduation from our program

Establishing this program will open a pathway for rural areas to have an incentivized economic driver to validate the need for high-speed internet access to be brought to the area which will also have a systematic program to develop local talent in the area that is motivated to stay in the state because of the job opportunities in a future proof industry.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Our program has been created to help keep talented individuals in the state with high-paying jobs in a future-proof industry that will have the ability to work on projects all over the world from right here in Louisiana.

The pilot program's foundation is the development of the high school curriculum and vocational activities that prepare students in the Parish to enter cybersecurity immediately after graduation from high school. Participants will learn the fundamentals of computing, networking, and cybersecurity. Participants will complete the accredited Security+ certification from CompTIA with their participation in the program. Participants will receive vocational training to apply the knowledge they develop by working on real cybersecurity projects. Teachers will be eligible for financial stipends for participating in the program as well.

Additional individual personal development and mentorship support from our nonprofit partner will be provided to students in areas of opportunity to gain insight into professional development in the risk assessment industry.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           4 Years for the pilot program

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                 

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
              

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
               

          What is the nature of the relationship? 

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               


Contact Information
name:  Rinaldi Jacobs Jr 
                                       address:  1562 Stacy Drive
Baton Rouge, La 70815
                                       phone:  225-803-8747
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  rinaldi@rwcme.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Board member & Director of Economic and Program Initiatives