Tribal\First Nation Grant and Other Opportunities. Continuity and Cyber Grant Program

Tribal Consultation Informs Cyber Grant Program

On Nov. 1, FEMA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) held their eighth tribal consultation to discuss the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program with dozens of tribal representatives. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program opens for applications on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

 

Consultations began in June 2022 to provide structured communication for tribal input and feedback, with the goal of using this feedback from Tribal leaders and representatives to shape policies and procedures for grant programs. This includes the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program, the Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program and the Emergency Management Grant Program, among others. 

 

The tribal cyber grant program, which began in FY 2022, provides funding to federally recognized tribal governments to address cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems owned or operated by or on behalf of tribes. The most recent consultation is being used to improve the program for FY 2024.

 

The FY 2023 program funding is $18.2 million, including unused rollover funding from the FY 2022 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. To learn more about the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program, including several changes based on input from the consultation, visit FEMA.gov. 

FEMA Works with Tribes on Continuity Planning

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community hosted FEMA’s Office of National Continuity Programs at the Scottsdale Community College Indigenous Cultural Center in Arizona from Nov. 1-2 for a pilot training course focused on continuity planning for tribal governments.

 

Representatives from 13 tribal nations from across the country contributed their experience, expertise and valuable insight into the content update to the Continuity Planning for Tribal Governments course that will be accessible to all tribal nations through the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) in 2024. 

 

During the pilot, tribal representatives provided tribal-specific anecdotes, examples of tribal continuity, feedback, best practices, and lessons learned directly to course developers to inform the final version of course materials. The discussions included how continuity planning can benefit tribes, cultural considerations for continuity planning, identification of Tribal essential functions and options to reduce a tribe’s risk. Dr. Eric Leshinskie, president of the Scottsdale Community College, provided a warm welcome to the campus, and Vice President Ricardo Leonard of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community offered a blessing. 

 

FEMA is thankful for the opportunity to work closely with the diverse tribal nations that participated in the pilot, the continued coordination with FEMA Region 9, and the multiple Regional Tribal Liaisons who assisted with participant coordination. FEMA appreciates the support from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and Scottsdale Community College for providing the forum to help improve training materials and better serve our tribal partners. 

Representatives from FEMA and 13 tribal nations participate in a pilot training course focused on continuity planning for tribal governments, held in Arizona from Nov. 1-2.