New York City Economic Development Corporation launches efforts to support growth of cybersecurity industry

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking partners for a range of city initiatives designed to facilitate the growth of New York City’s cybersecurity industry.

The plan is part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Cyber NYC initiative and his efforts to create 100,000 high-quality jobs over the next 10 years.

“Cybersecurity presents both a threat and opportunity to New York City,” NYCEDC President and CEO James Patchett said. “The de Blasio Administration is investing in cybersecurity to both fuel innovation, and to create new, accessible pathways to jobs in the industry. We’re looking for big-thinking proposals to help us become the global capital of cybersecurity and to create thousands of good jobs for New Yorkers.”

The initiatives include creating a Cyber Center that will include the city’s first cybersecurity accelerator, bolstering New York City’s cybersecurity talent pipeline through an Applied Learning Initiative and facilitating connections between academia and entrepreneurship to support commercialization of new products.

“Cybersecurity has never been more important to the pillars of New York’s economy – finance, healthcare, media, and commerce – and it will only grow more crucial,” Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer said. “Investing in this industry is timely, it plays to our strengths, and it will deliver a real return.”