Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security announced $279.9 million in grant funding for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) for fiscal year 2024. Now in its third year, the program provides funding to state, local, and territorial (SLT) governments to reduce cyber risks and build resilience against evolving cybersecurity threats. Established by the State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act and part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the SLCGP will provide nearly $1 billion in funding over four years to help SLT governments develop capabilities to detect, defend against, and respond to cyber threats.
“As floods become more frequent and severe, flood mitigation is more important than ever,” said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandra N. Mayorkas. “For 30 years, FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program has provided communities with access to federal assistance to protect against flood risk. Through the funding announced today, FEMA will continue to help states, local communities, tribal nations, and territories analyze flood risks and take proactive steps to protect their communities before disasters occur.”
The program is jointly administered by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). CISA provides expertise and guidance on cybersecurity issues, and FEMA manages the grant award and allocation process. Grant recipients can use the funds for a wide range of cybersecurity improvements and capabilities, including cybersecurity planning and exercises, hiring cyber talent, and improving the services citizens rely on every day.
“These cyber grants are an investment in the security of our nation’s infrastructure and help ensure communities across the country have the tools they need to defend themselves against cyberattacks,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly. “CISA is proud to offer the SLCGP, which will help lay a solid foundation for the government to build a sustainable, resilient cybersecurity program for the future.”
“FEMA is committed to helping our partners address and withstand cybersecurity threats to both our infrastructure and systems,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “Thanks to funding from the Biden-Harris Administration, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments will be able to build the capacity to better defend against evolving cyber threats.”
Eligible organizations can apply for funds through FEMA GO from September 23 through Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET. More information and helpful resources about state and local cybersecurity grant programs can be found on the CISA webpage at cisa.gov/cybergrants.
