HANOVER, MD (August 27, 2024) — The Maryland Department of Emergency Management, the Department of Information Technology, and the Maryland State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) Planning Committee, announced today that they will be releasing another funding opportunity through the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. The application period will begin Tuesday, September 3, 2024, and will end Thursday, October 3, 2024.

What is the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP)?

Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Congress established the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) to “award grants to eligible entities to address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information systems owned or operated by, or on behalf of, state, local, or tribal governments.” The SLCGP provides funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments to address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to SLTT-owned or operated information systems.

How much funding is available?

For FY23, Maryland was awarded $6.4M. The majority of this funding will go towards local jurisdictions, and 25% must go towards rural jurisdictions. Additional funding is expected in future years. This funding will be made available to eligible jurisdictions as sub-grants per the Maryland SLCGP Committee’s determinations.

Who is eligible to apply for funding? 

All local governments in Maryland are eligible to apply. “Local governments” are defined as 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; and a rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity. “Rural” area is defined as an area encompassing a population of less than 50,000 people that has not been designated in the most recent decennial census as an “urbanized area” by the Secretary of Commerce (i.e., counties and jurisdictions within counties with a population of 50,000 or less).

What can the funding be used for?

Funds can be used towards cybersecurity projects and services that promote cyber resilience, in accordance with CISA’s and the SLCGP Committee’s priorities outlined in the Maryland SLCGP plan. Grant funding will be awarded based on statutory requirements, demonstrated need, quality of the application, and the ability to maintain federal and state grant compliance.

What are the next steps?

For more information on the SLCGP Application process, please visit the Cyber Preparedness Unit’s funding page or email slcgp.info@maryland.gov.