Governor Awards Nearly $7 Million in Cybersecurity Grants

BRAINTREE– The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced the award of nearly $7 Million in federal grant funds to local governments and state agencies to enhance cybersecurity initiatives and reduce cyber risk for public agencies statewide.

In February 2024, the administration announced that grant funds were available through two programs, the FY24 Municipal Local Cybersecurity Grant Program and FY24 State Share Cybersecurity Grant Program, to help local governments and state agencies undertake priority cybersecurity enhancements. Today, the programs awarded $6,820,897.57 in federal funding to support cybersecurity initiatives across the state. Seven state agencies received a combined $359,063.07 and 125 local agencies and municipalities received grants totaling $6,461,834.50.

“It’s vital that our communities have access to the resources, tools, and guidance necessary to protect against increasingly frequent and sophisticated cybersecurity threats. Through these programs, our administration has undertaken a collaborative approach to equip state agencies and local communities with funding to help prevent, prepare for and recover from attacks on our digital infrastructure,” said Governor Maura Healey.

“These grants allow us to invest in critical cybersecurity initiatives for public agencies. As we work to protect Massachusetts communities from security threats, we’re grateful to each of the award recipients for their ongoing efforts to ensure that their communities are prepared against threats today and in the future,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll.

Funding for both programs was secured through the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, offered to states by the US Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As the State Administrative Agency for grant funds received by Massachusetts from these federal agencies, the Office of Grants and Research (OGR) is responsible for managing and administering the grant funds. Awards were approved by the Massachusetts Cybersecurity Planning Committee, which was formed as a condition of the federal program to guide allowable use of the funds.

The program prioritized funding for projects in rural communities, which FEMA defines as any community with a population less than 50,000. At least 84 of the grants were awarded to municipalities meeting FEMA’s definition of rural. Additional grants were awarded to regional divisions of government, such as county government and regional school districts, that benefit multiple communities, including rural towns.

Allowable projects under the grant programs include implementing multifactor authentication, migration to a .gov domain, development of a written cybersecurity incident response plan, tabletop exercises, and cybersecurity awareness training.

“This grant program underscores the importance of bolstering our Commonwealth’s cybersecurity maturity,” said Secretary of Technology Services and Security Jason Snyder.  “By working with and across state and municipal government, we strengthen our defenses and improve the selection of services we offer to all our constituents. In this first year of the grant program, it was important for us to listen to our partners and provide support on critical cybersecurity priorities such as supporting the implementation of incident response plans (IRPs), migrating to the dot.gov domain, and implementing multifactor authentication. We are excited to continue with our shared goal of offering more secure government services.”

“Cyber threats are evolving, and Massachusetts is advancing our strategies and defenses to meet these threats head on. These grant programs allow us the opportunity to invest in the tools necessary to safeguard our digital infrastructure and enhance the resiliency of our communities,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy.

“The security of our communities relies heavily on our cybersecurity infrastructure and practices. I’m grateful to Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll for their support in our efforts to equip Massachusetts communities with resources to enhance their security, preparedness and resilience,” said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton.

“We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for its commitment to strengthening cybersecurity at the local level. These investments will provide vital resources to help communities across the state ward off cyber threats,” said John Petrozzelli, director of the MassCyberCenter.

FY24 State Share Cybersecurity Grant Program Award Recipients

Award RecipientAward Amount
Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office$26,543.50
Berkshire Regional Transit Authority$5,025.00
Essex County Sheriff’s Office$99,124.57
Massachusetts College of Art and Design$90,000.00
Massachusetts Department of Correction$100,000.00
Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office$38,370.00
Office of Campaign and Political Finance$50,000.00

FY24 Municipal Local Cybersecurity Grant Program Award Recipients

Award Recipient Communities Benefiting Award Amount
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District Acton and Boxborough $99,716.00
Blue Hills Regional Technical School District Avon, Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Holbrook, Milton, Norwood, Randolph, and Westwood$18,772.50
Boston Public Schools Boston $91,000.00
Boston Retirement System Boston $67,500.00
Braintree Public Schools Braintree $25,000.00
Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District Bridgewater and Raynham $11,400.00
Bristol County Agricultural High School Acushnet, Attleboro, Berkley, Taunton, Dighton, Easton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, Westport, Mansfield, New Bedford, Seekonk, Norton, Oxford, Plainville, Raynham, Rehoboth, Somerset, Swansea, and other communities from which students attend$13,000.00
Bristol-Plymouth Reg Tech School District Berkley, Bridgewater, Dighton, Middleboro, Raynham, Rehoboth, and Taunton$34,000.00 
Cambridge Public Schools Cambridge $84,700.00
Cape Cod Light Compact JPE Bourne, Falmouth, Sandwich, Mashpee, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Brewster, Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, Provincetown, Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah$59,110.00
City of AgawamAgawam$62,850.10
City of Beverly Beverly $54,100.00
City of Brockton Brockton $49,500.00
City of Easthampton Easthampton $84,357.88
City of Fall River Fall River $100,000.00
City of Framingham Framingham $20,525.00
City of Gloucester Gloucester $54,931.65
City of Haverhill Haverhill $43,640.00
City of Leominster Leominster $30,000.00
City of Lowell Lowell $79,100.00
City of Marlborough Marlborough $30,000.00
City of Methuen Methuen $100,000.00
City of Newburyport Newburyport $51,910.00
City of Quincy Quincy $100,000.00
City of Taunton Taunton $50,000.00
City of Waltham Waltham $32,000.00
City of Watertown Watertown $99,000.00
City of Westfield Westfield $34,500.00
City of WorcesterWorcester $100,000.00
County of Norfolk Dover, Wellesley, Brookline, Needham, Cohasset, Westwood, Medfield, Sharon, Wrentham, Canton, Milton, Medway, Walpole, Norfolk, Foxborough, Dedham, Millis, Franklin, Braintree, Plainville, Norwood, Weymouth, Bellingham, Quincy, Stoughton, Avon, Holbrook, and Randolph$60,778.00
Dennis Water District Dennis $13,075.00
East Brookfield Police Department East Brookfield $100,000.00
Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School Beverly, Boxford, Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Lynnfield, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Middleton, Nahant, Peabody, Rockport, Salem, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wenham, and other communities through certain school programs$100,000.00
Frontier Regional School District Deerfield, Sunderland, Whately, and Conway$20,000.00
Gateway Regional School District Huntington, Russell, Blandford, Chester, Montgomery, Middlefield, and Worthington$9,860.00
Hingham Public Schools Hingham $28,500.00
Ipswich Public Schools Ipswich $77,278.00
Mansfield Public Schools Mansfield $25,500.00
Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Tisbury, West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah$99,995.00
Maynard Public Schools Maynard $2,000.00
Medford Public Schools Medford $50,231.00
Mendon-Upton Regional School District Mendon and Upton $56,500.00
Milton Public Schools Milton $54,500.00
Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School Acton, Arlington, Bolton, Concord, Dover, Lancaster, Lexington, Needham, and Stow$94,840.00
Monty Tech Regional Vocational Technical School District Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Barre, Fitchburg, Gardner, Harvard, Holden, Hubbardston, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeston, Royalston, Sterling, Templeton, Westminster, and Winchendon$20,000.00
Nashoba Regional School District Lancaster and Stow $24,300.00
Nashoba Valley Technical School DistrictChelmsford, Groton, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, and Westford$99,880.22
Newton Public Schools Newton $12,500.00
Northeast Metro Regional Vocational High School Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, Malden, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester, Woburn, and Saugus$78,700.00
Norwood Public Schools Norwood $11,250.00
Oxford Public Schools Oxford $46,270.00
Reading Municipal Light Department Reading, North Reading, Wilmington, and Lynnfield$35,000.00
Southbridge Police Department Southbridge$89,162.40
Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District Southwick, Tolland, and Granville$95,175.00
Town of Andover Andover $92,000.00
Town of Arlington Arlington $98,729.76
Town of Barnstable Barnstable $70,975.00
Town of Belmont Belmont $77,625.00
Town of Berkley Berkley $22,905.00
Town of Blandford Blandford $49,600.00
Town of Boxford Boxford $11,725.00
Town of Boylston Boylston $13,075.00
Town of Brookline Brookline $75,498.00
Town of Burlington Burlington $17,000.00
Town of Canton Canton $61,600.00
Town of Charlemont Charlemont $45,000.00
Town of Chatham Chatham $67,453.00
Town of Cheshire Cheshire $13,224.00
Town of Cohasset Cohasset $67,500.00
Town of Concord Concord $9,500.00
Town of Dartmouth Dartmouth $20,900.00
Town of Dedham Dedham $90,000.00
Town of Dighton Dighton $35,945.00
Town of Douglas Douglas $11,250.00
Town of Dracut Dracut $10,000.00
Town of Dudley Dudley $23,300.00
Town of East Bridgewater East Bridgewater $32,500.00
Town of Easton Easton $50,000.00
Town of Foxborough Foxborough $31,125.00
Town of Hardwick Hardwick $17,000.00
Town of Holliston Holliston $42,145.00
Town of Lincoln Lincoln $85,931.00
Town of LongmeadowLongmeadow$100,000.00
Towns of Marblehead, Middleton and Manchester-by-the-Sea (joint application)Marblehead, Middleton, and Manchester-by-the-Sea$133,800.00
Town of Marshfield Marshfield $98,164.00
Town of Mattapoisett Mattapoisett $29,741.00
Town of Medway Medway $63,200.00
Town of Merrimac Merrimac $24,933.46
Town of Middleborough Middleborough $80,050.00
Town of Monterey Monterey $45,425.00
Town of New Braintree New Braintree $10,592.00
Town of Norfolk Norfolk $94,650.00
Town of North Andover North Andover $43,600.00
Town of North Attleborough North Attleborough $31,194.94
Town of North Reading North Reading $54,680.00
Town of Northborough Northborough $23,500.00
Town of Oak Bluffs Oak Bluffs $49,706.91
Town of Orleans Orleans $68,700.00
Town of Plymouth Plymouth $37,444.00
Town of Provincetown Provincetown $40,000.00
Town of Reading Reading $38,370.00
Town of Rockland Rockland $21,620.00
Town of Rockport Rockport $9,543.40
Town of Rowley Rowley $20,933.46
Town of Salisbury Salisbury $4,113.98
Town of Stoughton Stoughton $100,000.00
Town of Sturbridge Sturbridge $55,000.00
Town of Tewksbury Tewksbury $83,760.00
Town of Tyngsborough Tyngsborough $99,000.00
Town of Wakefield Wakefield $84,066.90
Town of Ware Ware $6,545.00
Town of Wareham Wareham $63,723.74
Town of Webster Webster $71,530.00
Town of Wellesley Wellesley $23,373.00
Town of Westborough Westborough $40,500.00
Town of Westford Westford $75,000.00
Town of Westport Westport $35,760.00
Town of Westwood Westwood $80,050.00
Town of Weymouth Weymouth $100,000.00
Town of Whitman Whitman $80,050.00
Town of Yarmouth Yarmouth $32,500.00
Tri-Town School Union Boxford, Middleton, and Topsfield$47,000.00
Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School Bourne, Falmouth, Sandwich, Wareham, and Marion$30,600.00
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