SBA Selects Cyber Prize Competition Winner

Press release 24-71

Delaware SBDC To Receive $350K for Outstanding Leadership in Cybersecurity Planning for Small Businesses

Published on September 11, 2024

WASHINGTON - Today, AdministratorIsabel Casillas Guzman, head of theU.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden's Cabinet for America's more than 34 million small businesses, announced (video) that the Delaware Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has been selected to receive a $350,000 prize to develop and deploy a national Cyber Certification Program for SBA resource partners. The program will utilize industry best practices to provide cybersecurity tools and training to small businesses and will be delivered via a hybrid course curriculum with webinars and workshops, knowledge-based assessments, certification requirements, and ongoing continuing education tracking key performance indicators over two years.

"Amid rising cyber risks in the marketplace, the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to strengthening our nation's economic resilience by equipping small businesses with the tools they need to strengthen their cyber preparedness and resilience so they can continue to compete in our increasingly digital economy," saidAdministrator Guzman. "Our new award to the Delaware SBDC will fund the development of a national Cyber Certification Program for all SBA resource partners so that our over 1,200 centers across the country can be trained to provide cutting-edge cybersecurity resources to small businesses."

The Delaware SBDC, hosted by the University of Delaware, has been at the forefront of providing cybersecurity resources for small businesses. This prize will allow Delaware SBDC to expand upon their long-standing work to develop a certification program for wider use by SBA resource partners to effectively provide cyber planning strategies to small business clients.

"The Delaware SBDC is thrilled to be the recipient of the Cyber Prize. It is an honor to be recognized for our national cybersecurity program and asked to continue it on behalf of the SBA, its resource partners and all small businesses," said Delaware SBDC Director Mike Bowman.

Michael "Mike" Bowman is the state director of Delaware's SBDC and has been with the organization since 2013. Bowman is also President/CEO of the Delaware Technology Park, Inc. (DTP), a collaboration between the State of Delaware, the University of Delaware and private industry formed to launch and support technology companies across a diverse group of industries.

The prize winner was selected for their cyber curriculum development, course delivery, assessment and certification, and overall program management. For more information on how the winner was selected, visit Challenge.gov.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.