By @Aaron Avery
California’s cybersecurity plan, required as a condition of receiving funds under the Federal State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) program, has been approved by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The state’s plan can be viewed here.
Under the SLCGP, the state is the grant recipient and local agencies may be eligible for funding as sub-recipients. With the state’s cybersecurity plan approved, the next phase of the program will include potential sub-recipient funding. However, special districts are cautioned that the amount of funds available is not substantial when compared with the number of cities, counties, and special districts in the state (the state estimates that it will receive approximately $40 million over the SLCGP performance period of Federal FY22 – FY25), and that direct funding of local agency projects does not appear to be the main focus or priority of the state’s cybersecurity plan. The state has opted for a hybrid approach of providing in-kind services in-lieu of cash with the state as a service provider and direct cash to local governments.
Cal OES, which is administering the program, is still working to establish sub-recipient requirements and deadlines, which are anticipated to be finalized in late October or early November.
Interested special districts should check the state’s SLCGP website for announcements, requirements, and deadlines, and may wish to join the SLCGP email distribution list by sending an email to CCTF-SLCGP@CalOES.ca.gov.
According to Cal OES “…local government activities receiving funding would need to align with one of the specified overall projects listed in the plan, and would need to submit detailed project proposals that would be reviewed and approved by Cal OES at that point. Enrollment in state government provided in-kind services would not require project proposals.” Special districts should review the state’s cybersecurity plan for additional details, including with respect to projects identified in Appendix B (described as essentially categories or lines of effort).
The SLCGP requires that 80 percent of the funding go to local governments and 25 percent to rural areas. Rural areas are defined as jurisdictions under 50,000 population. Cal OES is working with FEMA to determine how this applies to special districts and joint powers authorities.
A Cal OES slideshow overviewing the program can be viewed here.
Stay tuned to CSDA eNews and Advocacy News for additional updates.
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