Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program | SB OEDCS 24 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for SB OEDCS 24 001

The Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) designed to help protect newer small businesses from rising cyber threats. The program is rooted in the growing scale of internet-enabled crime reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). In 2023 alone, IC3 logged 880,418 complaints from the public, with potential losses topping $12.5 billion. Compared with 2022, that represents roughly a 10 percent increase in complaints and about a 22 percent increase in reported losses. The SBA is using these figures to underscore a practical reality: small businesses are often targeted because they hold valuable data and funds but typically do not have the same security staff, tools, or budgets as larger organizations.

The funding is meant to address common barriers that small business owners face when trying to improve cybersecurity. Many owners report feeling vulnerable to cyberattacks, but also report not knowing where to start, lacking time to dedicate to security planning, or being unable to afford professional IT or managed security services. This pilot program is intended to close that gap during what the SBA describes as the formative and most vulnerable years for new small business concerns, when a single incident can be especially disruptive or even business-ending.

Only state governments (and equivalent entities) are eligible to apply directly for this funding, meaning the SBA is funding state-led projects rather than awarding grants straight to individual businesses. Those state projects are expected to deliver practical tools and support that help new small businesses strengthen their cybersecurity posture. While the notice excerpt does not spell out specific project models, the emphasis on "tools to combat cybersecurity threats" strongly suggests initiatives such as cybersecurity assessments, training and awareness programs, adoption of baseline security controls, and structured support that helps businesses implement protections they might otherwise delay or skip.

Key details from the opportunity listing include the funding opportunity title "Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program" and the funding opportunity number "SB OEDCS 24 001." The instrument type is a grant, and the funding activity categories are Business and Commerce, Community Development, and Consumer Protection, reflecting both economic resilience goals and the consumer harms that can follow from small business breaches. The program is listed under CFDA number 59.079. The original application closing date is 2024-08-02. The award ceiling is $1,045,000, and the SBA anticipates making 3 awards, indicating a limited number of state-level pilots rather than broad nationwide distribution in this cycle.

The statutory authority for the program comes from the Consolidated Appropriations Acts of 2022, 2023, and 2024, which explicitly authorized the SBA to make these grants to states and equivalent entities. In practical terms, that means the program is part of a multi-year federal effort to help states build or expand capacity to support small business cybersecurity, rather than a one-off effort. For small businesses, the most important takeaway is that access to benefits from this program will likely flow through state-run or state-sponsored initiatives funded by the SBA, so the on-the-ground services may vary by state depending on the projects selected for award.

• The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce, community development, consumer protection sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.079.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,045,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for SB OEDCS 24 001

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