NIRMA members seeking funds to accomplish cybersecurity projects may consider applying for SLCGP grant funds. The deadline for Round 2 grant applications is February 4, 2024.  The Nebraska Cybersecurity Planning Committee reports that thirty counties in Nebraska received SLGCP funding in round 1 of the grant program, with county projects (including joint projects with other local government entities) accounting for 32% of the grant funds approved during round 1.

The SLCGP Cybersecurity Planning Committee will present a webinar on January 16, 2024 at 2:00 PM on the grant application process. This round will focus on projects aimed at the “protect” and “detect” phases of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework module. Completion of the Nationwide Cybersecurity Review (NCSR) (an internal self-assessment tool found at https://www.cisecurity.org/ms-isac/services/ncsr), is a prerequisite to obtaining grant funds. All grant application information and the link to the upcoming webinar, when available, can be found on the Nebraska SLCG website. This grant opportunity came to NIRMA’s attention through its participation in the County Network Security Cooperative. The grant program was originally announced by CISA, DHS, and FEMA in September 2022.