Kentucky · East South Central US
Kentucky cybersecurity grants for defense contractors
Kentucky's defense footprint runs from the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell to Army Human Resources Command at Fort Knox and the munitions mission at Blue Grass Army Depot. If you hold or pursue DoD work, a CMMC gap assessment shows exactly where you stand, and the Cyber Grants Alliance grant can cover it.
- 105K+Acres at Fort Campbell
- 3Major installations statewide
- 100Grants available
CMMC Phase 2 status: under DoD review. DoD suspended the CMMC Phase 2 third-party certification requirement in July 2026 pending a program review. Phase 1 self-assessment against NIST SP 800-171 remains mandatory now, and self-certified compliance carries more liability with third-party verification on hold.
Why it matters here
Where does Kentucky's defense work come from?
Kentucky's defense economy centers on three major U.S. Army installations: Fort Campbell's air assault mission, Fort Knox's personnel-command and armor legacy, and Blue Grass Army Depot's munitions storage and maintenance role, together creating significant contracting opportunities, and CMMC obligations, for local businesses.
Kentucky-Tennessee border
Fort Campbell
Home to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell spans roughly 105,000 acres across the Kentucky-Tennessee state line and supports well over 20,000 active-duty soldiers, plus airfields, firing ranges, and maneuver training areas central to the Army's air-assault and special-operations mission.
Fort Knox
Fort Knox / Army Human Resources Command
Best known for the U.S. Bullion Depository, Fort Knox is also headquarters for U.S. Army Human Resources Command (relocated there under the 2005 BRAC round) and was home to the Army Armor School for seven decades (1940 to 2010) before that mission moved to Fort Benning, Georgia.
Richmond
Blue Grass Army Depot
Kentucky's third-largest military installation at roughly 14,594 acres, Blue Grass Army Depot stores, inspects, maintains, and destroys conventional and chemical munitions, employs 700+ people (about 60% veterans), and adds an estimated $225 million in economic value to the state.
Your local partner
Who is Kentucky's CMMC and manufacturing partner?
The Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership (KY-MEP) is Kentucky's NIST MEP affiliate, housed at the University of Louisville. It works with small and mid-sized Kentucky manufacturers on operational improvement, technology adoption, and federal-compliance readiness, launched with a $13 million federal Department of Commerce grant in December 2022 that established KY-MEP at the University of Louisville, and separately received roughly $8 million in state appropriations in March 2025 to fund its Catalyst Equipment Match program for manufacturers.
Cybersecurity & compliance readiness
KY-MEP works with manufacturers on Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and NIST 800-171 readiness as part of its core service lineup for the defense industrial base.
Capital equipment support
KY-MEP's Catalyst Equipment Match (CEM) program matches up to 50% (up to $200,000) of manufacturer investment in capital equipment and next-generation technology such as automation, robotics, and additive manufacturing.
More resources
What other cybersecurity support can Kentucky businesses use?
Beyond the grant, Kentucky businesses can tap additional support through state programs and federal resources.
Kentucky APEX Accelerator
Formerly the Kentucky Procurement Technical Assistance Center (KYPTAC), this DoD- and state-funded program provides free help with SAM.gov registration, bid matching, and federal cybersecurity requirements, including CMMC, from seven regional offices: Bowling Green, Covington, Elizabethtown, Lexington, Louisville, Morehead, and Paducah.
Kentucky Office of Homeland Security (KOHS)
KOHS offers no-cost cybersecurity training and exercises to Kentucky organizations and coordinates joint cyber table-top exercises with CISA for critical-infrastructure owners and operators.
CISA Region 4
Kentucky is served by CISA Region 4, which also covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, providing Cybersecurity Advisors and no-cost advisory and incident-response support.
The grant
How much does a CMMC gap assessment cost in Kentucky?
Through the CMMC gap assessment grant, it is an in-kind award. You receive the assessment itself, delivered by a certified partner. 100 grants are available.
Confirm you qualify
Open to U.S. defense contractors and manufacturers in the supply chain that hold or pursue DoD contracts and have not yet completed a CMMC assessment.
Get assessed against NIST 800-171
A certified partner reviews your current controls and identifies the gaps that stand between you and CMMC Level 2.
Leave knowing where you stand
You receive a prioritized list of your compliance gaps by severity, so you know what to fix first.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: Kentucky CMMC grants
Who qualifies for the CMMC gap assessment grant in Kentucky?
The grant is open to U.S. defense contractors and manufacturers in the DoD supply chain that hold or are pursuing DoD contracts and have not yet completed a CMMC assessment. Kentucky businesses supporting Fort Campbell, Fort Knox, or the Blue Grass Army Depot are typical candidates.
How much does a CMMC gap assessment cost in Kentucky?
Through the Cyber Grants Alliance program, the assessment is delivered as an in-kind grant. You receive the assessment itself from a certified partner. 100 grants are available.
What is Kentucky's MEP center?
The Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership (KY-MEP), housed at the University of Louisville, is Kentucky's NIST MEP affiliate. It works with manufacturers on CMMC and NIST 800-171 readiness alongside operational and technology-adoption support, including the Catalyst Equipment Match program for capital equipment investment.
Is CMMC Level 2 enforcement still happening on November 10, 2026?
No. DoD suspended the CMMC Phase 2 third-party (C3PAO) certification requirement on July 13, 2026, pending a program review, so there is no confirmed enforcement date at this time. Phase 1 self-assessment against all 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls remains mandatory now, and self-certified SPRS scores carry more liability while third-party verification is paused. A gap assessment is still the essential first step.
Do subcontractors in Kentucky need CMMC?
If your contract or a prime's contract involves Controlled Unclassified Information, CMMC requirements generally flow down to subcontractors that handle that information. A gap assessment is the fastest way to confirm what applies to you.
Ready when you are
Apply for your CMMC gap assessment grant
100 in-kind awards. Confirm eligibility and submit in minutes.
Or email info@cybergrantsalliance.org or call +1 (888) 323-9991