Connecticut has opened the application window for the first round of the state’s State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.
The grant program is managed by the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), in consultation with the Connecticut Cybersecurity Planning Subcommittee. The program is funded by the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act approved by Congress in 2021.
The state-administered program is providing grants to eligible entities to address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information systems that are owned or operated by, or on behalf of, state, local, and tribal governments.
Eligible entities include:
- A county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments, regional or interstate government entity, or agency or instrumentality of a local government;
- An Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization; and
- A rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity.
“Cybersecurity threats are very real and can impact any type of entity, whether you’re a private organization or a public office,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “I strongly encourage municipal officials across Connecticut to evaluate their cybersecurity needs, and if a potential weakness is identified they should submit a grant application to the state so that we can get these funds to them and they can be put to productive use.”
The program management team consists of relevant stakeholders in the cybersecurity discipline, including the state chief information officer, the state chief information security officer, representatives from municipalities and the Regional Emergency Planning Team, institutions of public education, public health representation, and representatives of rural, suburban, and high-population jurisdictions.
“Connecticut has been at the forefront of prioritizing a whole community approach to cybersecurity,” said Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Deputy Commissioner Brenda Bergeron, who oversees DEMHS. “Now with this grant program, eligible sub-applicants can make cybersecurity investments to build the appropriate protections commensurate with the risks. DEMHS looks forward to supporting the state’s efforts to further enhance our cybersecurity.”
The governor’s office noted that the program has a sliding cost-share match requirement that changes with each fiscal year. For the fiscal year 2022 funding, the Federal share of any activity cannot exceed 90 percent. Connecticut has been allocated $2,680,589 in Federal funds to allocate to eligible sub-entities and sub-applications.
Applications for the first round of funding must be submitted to DEMHS by July 19.
