Webinars

On September 23, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the availability of $279.9 million in grant funding for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP). Now in its third year, this program provides federal funding to state, local, and territorial (SLT) governments to help reduce cyber risk and build resilience against evolving cybersecurity threats.

Awarded federal funding can be used to develop capabilities to detect, protect against, and respond to cyber threats. Eligible entities have until Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 5 pm ET to apply for funds. 

This webinar will provide local election officials with a comprehensive overview of the application process and timeline, CISA’s cybersecurity best practices, and the components of a comprehensive cybersecurity plan. It will also offer information about connecting with your State Administrative Agency (SAA).

Additional Resources
Fact Sheet

BRIC by Brick: Laying the Groundwork for a Successful FEMA BRIC Grant Application

In this follow-up webinar, we will dive deeper into the FEMA BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) Grants and how election offices can make the case for critical investment in disaster preparedness. We’ll also cover actionable tips for preparing early requests, ensuring your office is well-positioned to secure federal funding when the application period opens. Whether you are finalizing your project ideas or just starting to plan, this session will provide the insightsformation needed to make your federal grant application as strong as possible.

Additional Resources
Fact Sheet

The Homeland Security Preparedness Grant (HSPG) Program is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). HSPG is the main funding source for state and local governments' homeland security and anti-terrorism efforts. In recent funding rounds, election security was a required element of the HSPG funding and provided crucial funding to enhance election infrastructure and security. The HSPG Program aims to strengthen election infrastructure by addressing vulnerabilities and supporting strategic initiatives to protect against terrorism and other threats.

This webinar will provide local election officials with an overview of the general structure of the grant, examples of projects, and more.

Additional Resources:
Fact Sheet

The Department of Education provided new guidance that state and local elections offices can now hire college students that are eligible for Federal Work Study benefits free of charge. This is a fantastic opportunity available to elections offices nationwide to help ease workforce limitations and budget constraints.

This webinar will provide local election officials with the basics on how to take advantage of this opportunity and the first steps to take if you wish to hire Federal Work Study students.

Additional Resources:
Guide

On this webinar you’ll review in-depth information about the federal grant program released by FEMA and supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The “Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities” or BRIC program presents an exciting opportunity for state and local election officials to seek federal funding to improve elections operations. The BRIC program is investing $1 billion in public infrastructure funds across the country, including $701 million in competitive grants to ensure that local jurisdictions can increase resilience of critical services from natural hazards. As a core element of government function, elections are a critical service and eligible for this government funding. The grant deadline is February 29, 2024.

Additional Resources:
Fact Sheet