Cyber Innovation Center impacting Shreveport Bossier area
BOSSIER CITY, La. – Cyber Innovation Center works to develop a sustainable knowledge based workforce that can support the growing needs of government, industry, and academia. CIC and the National Cyber Research Park have shaped the economic landscape of northern Louisiana.
The investment by the CIC in K-12 education is pivotal. The center has built an educational program that has not only benefited local teachers and students but also developed a model that is replicated across the country – in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Craig Spohn, president of Cyber Innovation Center, said:
“If you don’t get these kids by early middle school, they don’t track successfully into the math, science, and engineering career paths. You have to capture that emphasis by 6th or 7th grade. You see that 75% of the students entering college have to take remedial math in order to prepare for freshman math course. They’re taking non credit hour courses to prepare for three hour courses. But you think about that most kids can’t sit in the first math class they’re required to take.”
The Shreveport-Bossier area has benefited from CIC programs.
“We’re able to recruit 800 technology jobs with a major federal defense contractor, CSRA,” said Spohn. “That’s about a $440 million commitment over ten years. If you look at the statistics, of each job created, four more jobs are created.” This model in northwest Louisiana is currently being replicated across the entire country.
CIC works closely with the legislature to support the growth of defense, particularly Barksdale Air force Base. These efforts include study and analysis initiatives and Department of Defense support agencies.