The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness has opened its New Jersey State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. This grant opportunity represents an investment in cybersecurity solutions and training. Applications are due no later than Friday, June 9, 2023.
The following four first-year projects have been approved by the SLCGP Planning Committee, DHS and FEMA, and funds from the SLCGP will be used to implement them. To ensure many New Jersey entities can benefit from the limited SLCGP funds, the software, hardware and services procured with the grant funds will be passed through to state and local government entities by the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell.
Below is a list and descriptions of the federal fiscal year 2022 approved projects:
- Cybersecurity Governance and Planning: This project aims to help state and local government organizations develop and establish governance structures, including developing and implementing cybersecurity plans, and documented policies and standards that promote the implementation of security controls, address capabilities to respond to cybersecurity incidents, and ensure continuity of operations.
- Cybersecurity Risk Management: This project will allow state and local government organizations to identify, assess and prioritize risk remediation efforts while also driving areas for improvements to their overall cybersecurity posture. The risk assessment results from this project will also help inform the SLCGP Planning Committee regarding necessary investments of SLCGP funds in years two through four.
- Enhance Cybersecurity Resilience: Three cybersecurity resilience enhancement initiatives will be funded and supported in the first year of the SLCGP. These initiatives address endpoint, application and access control threats. Additional initiatives will be supported in subsequent years.
- Workforce Development: This project provides IT and cybersecurity personnel with training resources and opportunities to develop knowledge, skills and abilities to address evolving cyber challenges.
On April 24, 2023, DHS and FEMA provided final approval of the New Jersey SLCGP Strategic Plan and four first-year projects that were submitted by the New Jersey SLCGP Planning Committee. The committee consists of members from state and local government organizations, K-12, higher-education and public health organizations. The state was awarded a $3.37 million grant for federal fiscal year 2022. In subsequent years, New Jersey will receive approximately $6.8 million in federal fiscal year 2023, $5.1 million in federal fiscal year 2024, and $1.7 million in federal fiscal year 2025, which will allow for more risk reduction projects and investments. Throughout the lifecycle of the SLCGP, 80% of the grant funds are required to be allocated to reduce cybersecurity risks in local governments, with 25% of the funds specifically allocated for cybersecurity risk reduction in rural jurisdictions (populations less than or equal to 50,000).
This grant can provide schools with the following products and services:
- Advanced endpoint protection.
- Web application security.
- Identification and authentication protection.
- Training classes.
- Virtual cyber range.
- Security awareness training.
The following groups are eligible for the SLCGP:
- 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, or in Alaska a Native village or Alaska Regional Native Corporation.
- A rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity.
Deadline: State and local government organizations are required to complete and submit the following two documents by Friday, June 9, 2023 by 11:59 pm EST:
For more information on the SLCGP, visit the NJCCIC website. A detailed program summary can be found here.