GEMA/HS: Application Period for Cybersecurity Grant Opens October 2023

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) announce the opening of the application period for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP).

The purpose of the FY 2023 SLCGP grant is to provide funds to eligible state and local entities to address cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems owned, operated by, or on behalf of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have created a series of overarching goals and objectives for the SLCGP.  For FY23 these goals include assessing and evaluating systems and capabilities, mitigating prioritized issues, and building a cybersecurity workforce.  Applicants are required to focus on addressing the following program objectives in their applications:

• Objective 2: Understand their current cybersecurity posture and areas for improvement based on continuous testing, evaluation, and structured assessments.

• Objective 3: Implement security protections commensurate with risk.

• Objective 4: Ensure organization personnel are appropriately trained in cybersecurity, commensurate with responsibility.

The FY23 funding allocation for the State of Georgia is $ 9,873,903.  Under the grant requirements, 80% of funding must be provided to local government, of which 25% must be to rural entities.  Recipients of this grant must meet a 20% cost share requirement, either in cash (hard match) or in kind (soft match).

“Special consideration will be given to cybersecurity projects from education, especially K-12. Investing grant funds in cybersecurity for K-12 education is not just safeguarding data; it’s fortifying the future of our digital generation, where knowledge and security go hand in hand,” said Steve Hodges, the Chief Information Security Officer for Georgia.

“These grants are critical to improving cybersecurity for local governments and schools,” said GEMA/HS Director Chris Stallings. “With cyberattacks on the rise, the funds provide opportunities to modernize systems and ensure employees are properly trained to recognize and respond appropriately to cyber threats.”

Applications will only be accepted on-line via the Georgia EMGrantsPro Manager. GEMA/HS is the state Administrative Authority for this program. Applicants needing grant support should contact the GEMA/HS Preparedness Grants Department at (404) 635-7095, or by email at hsgrants@gema.ga.gov.

As part of the Office of the Governor, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency collaborates with local, state and federal governments in partnership with private sector and non-governmental organizations to protect life and property against man-made and natural emergencies. GEMA/HS’s Ready Georgia website and preparedness campaign provides Georgians with the knowledge needed to effectively prepare for disasters. Go to gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/ready-georgia for information on developing a custom emergency plan and Ready kit.

The Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) manages the delivery of IT infrastructure services to 89 Executive Branch agencies and managed network services to more than 1,200 state and local government entities. IT infrastructure services encompass mainframes, servers, service desk, end user computing, disaster recovery and security. Both categories of services are provided as shared services through a public-private partnership called the Georgia Enterprise Technology Services (GETS) program. GTA is responsible for service provider oversight and management as well as governance. Meanwhile, GTA promotes an enterprise approach to technology by establishing statewide IT policies, standards and guidelines based on industry best practices and federal requirements. GTA works closely with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget and state agencies to ensure an individual agency’s IT strategy aligns with its overall business strategy and business continuity planning.