Clean Water Current

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced $379 million in funding for the second year of a four-year, $1 billion cybersecurity grant program for state, local, and territorial governments.  The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program and the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), will help these entities address cybersecurity risks.   

The grant program is intended to support state and local governments in developing, revising, and implementing cybersecurity plans and addressing imminent cybersecurity threats.  States will apply for the funds, and cities and counties can receive sub-awards from their state agency.   

The first-year grants were aimed at states forming a cybersecurity planning committing and developing a statewide cybersecurity plan.  The second year will focus on understanding current cybersecurity postures and identifying areas for improvement, ensuring organization personnel are appropriately trained, and implementing security protections commensurate with risk.   

More information about the grant program is available here.  NACWA recommends that its member utilities contact their appropriate state agency to determine if the state applied for a grant last year or plans to do so this year and to recommend that utilities be included in the state cybersecurity plan.  Please contact Cynthia Finley, NACWA’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, with any questions.