Cybersecurity Funding

$375M Added to State, Local Cyber Grant Program, Deadline to Apply is Oct. 6

• By Kristal Kuykendall
• 08/24/23

The Department of Homeland Security has added $374.9 million in grant funding to the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program administered by CISA and FEMA, as the program enters its second year, according to a news release.

The SLCGP is funded through state governments, which then pass the awards the state and local agencies, including public schools, to help them strengthen their cybersecurity posture. Launched last fall with $185 million the first year, the SLCGP was established to help state and local public sector agencies develop capabilities to detect, protect against, and respond to cyber threats.

According to the funding notice on Grants.gov, state governments must apply for the funds by Oct. 6, 2023; awards are expected to start at $500,000 apiece. 

The program is jointly administered by CISA and FEMA. CISA provides expertise and guidance on cybersecurity issues while FEMA manages the grant award and allocation process. Award recipients may use funding for a wide range of cybersecurity improvements and capabilities, including cybersecurity planning and exercising, hiring cyber personnel, and improving the services that citizens rely on daily. 

This year’s focus for the program, according to the announcement, includes: 

• Understanding current cybersecurity postures and identifying areas for improvement based on continuous testing, evaluation, and structured assessments;

• Ensuring organization personnel are appropriately trained in cybersecurity; and

• Implementing security protections commensurate with risk.

All the program changes for this year’s funding can be found in the FY23 SLCGP fact sheet, key changes document, and FAQs, DHS said.

“State and local governments are facing increasingly sophisticated cyber threats to their critical infrastructure and public safety,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly. “As the Nation’s Cyber Defense Agency, CISA is pleased to make available yet another tool to that will help strengthen cyber defenses for communities across the nation and bolster our collective cybersecurity.” 

Learn more about the program at CISA’s webpage: cisa.gov/cybergrants.