The capabilities of the Los Angeles Cyber Lab will be expanded now that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded the project a $3 million grant, Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday.

The project, which started in August 2017, is a nonprofit public-private-partnership aimed at fighting cyber attacks that includes leadership from nearly 30 top Los Angeles businesses.

“We learn more every day about the havoc that criminal hackers can wreak on our lives. This expansion ensures that L.A. will continue to lead with the urgency that is required to protect our financial, business, and personal information,” Garcetti said.

Membership in the lab is open to all businesses and residents at no cost, and the lab distributes daily and weekly cybersecurity alerts to over 500 local businesses.

Officials said the expansion will grow the lab’s capacity, focus on training the next generation of systems and professionals, and fund the creation of the LA Cyber Lab Innovation Incubator, which will make the lab and its data available to students, researchers, and product developers.

“The LA Cyber Lab is a tremendous opportunity to build a unique and growing public-private partnership that serves the Los Angeles community and leverages our strengths in innovation, technology and commitment to service,” said Karl Mattson, senior vice president and chief information security officer at City National Bank in Los Angeles. “City National Bank is so proud to be a part of this effort.”

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