New funding announced for State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program

Key Takeaways

On September 16, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP), which is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The SLGCP provides a total of $1 billion in funding over the next four years, with a total of $185 million available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, to support state and local efforts to address cyber risks to their information systems.

Eligible entities, which include states and counties, can now apply for funding for FY 2022. As required by the SLCGP, 80 percent of the entire program’s funds must be sub-allocated to local governments and rural areas within 45 days of an eligible entity’s receipt of the funds (i.e. state).  The state-by-state allocation figures can be found on pages 8-9 of the NOFO.

Applicants are required to demonstrate how their efforts will achieve the following SLCGP program objectives:

1. Develop and establish appropriate governance structures, including developing, implementing, or revising cybersecurity plans, to improve capabilities to respond to cybersecurity incidents and ensure continuity of operations
2. Understand their current cybersecurity posture and areas for improvement based on continuous testing, evaluation, and structured assessments
3. Implement security protections commensurate with risk
4. Ensure organization personnel are appropriately trained in cybersecurity, commensurate with responsibility

SLCGP funds are encouraged to prioritize the establishment of cybersecurity planning committees, the development of state-wide cybersecurity plans, conducting assessments and evaluations as the basis for individual projects throughout the life of the program, and adopting key cybersecurity best practices.

NACo strongly encourages all county IT directors and CIOs to begin coordinating with their State Administrative Agent (SAA) for next steps on their state’s plans to applying for funding. A list of SAA's can be found here. NACo will continue to monitor this program closely and provide updates as needed.