State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP)
Funding to help state and local governments reduce cybersecurity risk to the systems they own or operate. For emergency services, this can support protecting dispatch systems, records systems, and other critical technology from cyber threats.
Who it is for
State, local, and territorial governments. Only the state's designated State Administrative Agency applies to DHS. Local entities, which can include public safety agencies, receive sub-awards through the state.
Department types: Any department
An honest note on fit
Most relevant to dispatch centers and agencies running critical IT or records systems, less so to a small department with little technology footprint. Funding is shrinking and the match is rising, so weigh the effort against a likely modest award. Still worth it if you have a real cyber need and your state has an active cycle.
Before you start
How you apply: Apply through your state.
You do not apply to DHS directly. The state applies and must pass at least 80 percent through to local governments, with at least 25 percent of that going to rural areas. Apply through your state's cybersecurity or homeland security grant office.
Match required: Yes, and the match has increased each year. States have reported local match requirements around 30 to 40 percent in recent years. Confirm the current figure with your state.
How to apply
- Identify the state office administering SLCGP, often the homeland security or IT/cybersecurity agency.
- Contact them about the local sub-award process and deadline, which is set by the state and varies.
- Confirm SAM.gov registration.
- Define a project that maps to the state's approved Cybersecurity Plan and one of the program objectives, such as governance, assessment, or mitigation.
- Submit through the state's grant portal on their internal timeline.
Deadline: Annual cycle tied to the federal funding years, but the deadline that matters is your state's local sub-award window, which varies. Note that federal funding for this program has declined sharply year over year, so confirm whether a current cycle is open. (Annual cycle)
Funding: Federal totals have dropped over time: roughly $374 million in FY2023, $279 million in FY2024, and about $91.75 million in FY2025, split across all states. Local sub-award amounts are modest.
Verified as of 2026-05-31. Programs are checked periodically against their official source. Funding details and deadlines change. Confirm the current requirements on the official program page before you apply.