Grand Junction, Colorado (April 23, 2024) —
The Economic Development Commission (EDC) has announced that a local consortium of public, 私人, 以及美国的非营利组织 梅萨县 will receive up to $625,000 through the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) Technology Development Hub Program. 技术发展计划 seeks to catalyze regional technology development by making place-based investments, positioning Colorado competitively nationally and globally in diverse Colorado regions and ecosystems with assets and resources to drive increased business attraction, net new job growth and 劳动力 development with a focus on equity and inclusion.
“From our world-class institutions of higher education to our highly talented and educated 劳动力, Colorado is home to so much amazing innovation. We are developing the technologies of tomorrow right here, and Colorado Technology Hubs will ensure our state continues to be a national leader,州长波利斯说。.
弹性 & Adaptive Cyber Protection of Industrial Control Devices & Systems (RAPIDS) Consortium is comprised of representatives from 梅萨县, pp电子极速糖果, Grand Junction Economic Partnership, GroupSense, 和 科罗拉多河区. The project will focus on protecting critical infrastructure, 尤其是科罗拉多河, 通过网络安全措施, development of college-level curriculum to support industry 劳动力 development, enabling secure and efficient management of water resources, and provide a service economy to roughly 300 municipal water districts along the Colorado River.
“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to participate in the RAPIDS Consortium with such dedicated partners. This grant from the OEDIT Technology Development Hub Program is an investment in technology and a commitment to safeguarding the Colorado River and enhancing our region’s resilience against cyber threats,科迪·戴维斯说, 梅萨县专员. “By strengthening our critical infrastructure, we are ensuring the security of our water resources, which are vital for our community’s agricultural and economic prosperity. This project demonstrates our proactive approach to facing national challenges right from 梅萨县.”
关键基础设施脆弱性 has been identified as a national issue, with possible cyber-attacks anticipated to impact critical technology-enabled resources, 包括水和农业. RAPIDS began as a vision to protect the Colorado River and develop sustainable strategies to protect critical infrastructure nationally. The framework for the RAPIDS project will consist of three pillars: (1) Water Storage, (2)水政策, (3)水保护. The technology hub’s model will focus on updating and securing modern control systems along the Colorado River and determining ways to protect our water through cybersecurity, 劳动力, 人才发展.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of such a diverse coalition focused on diversifying our economy and protecting our most critical infrastructure,CMU校长约翰·马歇尔说. “This investment will help us continue our efforts to protect critical water resources right here in 梅萨县.” pp电子极速糖果 will act as the Fiscal Agent for the consortium, and funds will be dispersed over three years, 以协议条款为准. The grant will enable the RAPIDS Consortium to begin funding feasibility studies, 长期商业计划, 以及CMU的课程开发.
“From an economic development perspective, this has the potential to create new primary jobs as we move towards the goal of a physical presence right here in 梅萨县 that will expand our reach,柯蒂斯·恩格尔哈特说, Executive Director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership. “Securing funding to begin this project is a huge win for our community as we champion ways to increase efficiency on how our water systems are managed and protected from cyber threats.”
As the digital world interfaces with our physical infrastructure, the importance of protecting the Colorado River from cyber-attacks cannot be overstated. 通过加强数字基础设施, investing in robust cybersecurity measures, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, RAPIDS aims to mitigate the risk of potential disasters and secure the river’s sustainable future.
“As we work to develop tomorrow’s most critical technologies, we have the opportunity to spur growth and innovation across the state so that Coloradans of all backgrounds can benefit from these incredible new opportunities. Each of these Colorado Tech Hubs will build on regional strengths while working to create inclusive and equitable ecosystems that support a Colorado economy that works for everyone,OEDIT的执行董事说, 夏娃利伯曼.