Kentucky Cybersecurity Grants for Defense Contractors and Small Business

2 Major Army Installations

3rd US Air Cargo Hub (Louisville)

73 Grants Remain of 100

Kentucky defense contractors and small businesses have multiple pathways to strengthen their cybersecurity posture through grants, state programs, and federal resources. With DoD self-assessment against all 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls mandatory now, and CMMC Phase 2 third-party certification suspended pending review, now is the time to understand what support is available and how to access it.

Kentucky's Defense Footprint

The Commonwealth of Kentucky supports a significant defense ecosystem through two major Army installations, a critical logistics hub, and a specialized depot that generate substantial contracting opportunities.

• Fort Campbell (Kentucky-Tennessee border): 101st Airborne Division, Army's primary aviation and rapid deployment hub. Large contracting footprint for logistics and IT services.
• Fort Knox (Louisville): U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Gold Vault facility. Generates contracting in personnel services, security, and administrative support.
• Blue Grass Army Depot (Madison County): DoD munitions storage and management. Contracts with local suppliers for equipment, security, and specialized manufacturing.

Kentucky's MEP Center: Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC)

Kentucky's MEP center is the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC), which provides manufacturing assistance, technology adoption support, and cybersecurity resources to small and mid-sized manufacturers.

• Cybersecurity Readiness: KSTC offers technology assessments that can identify security gaps relevant to NIST SP 800-171 requirements.
• Federal Contracting Support: KSTC helps small businesses navigate DoD contracting pathways, including SAM.gov registration and proposal development.
• Website: kstc.org

State Cybersecurity Resources

Kentucky businesses can access additional cybersecurity support through state and federal programs designed to protect critical infrastructure and supply chains.

• CISA Regional Support: CISA's Louisville field office provides no-cost cybersecurity advisories, vulnerability assessments, and incident response planning for eligible organizations.
• Kentucky Workforce Development: Programs funded through the Workforce Development Board address cybersecurity workforce gaps, with training and certification support for technology and manufacturing workers.
• KBOR Research Funds: The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education administers research funding that sometimes supports cybersecurity research partnerships with Kentucky universities.

CMMC Compliance: What Defense Contractors Need to Know

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program requires defense contractors to meet specific cybersecurity standards before winning contracts that involve Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

• NIST SP 800-171: The foundation of CMMC Level 2. Covers 110 security controls across 14 domains including Access Control, Audit and Accountability, Risk Assessment, and Incident Response.
• Gap Assessment: A professional gap assessment identifies exactly which controls your organization does not yet meet and ranks them by severity. This is the critical first step before remediation.
• CGA Grant: The CGA CMMC Gap Assessment Grant provides an in-kind professional assessment at no cost to eligible contractors. Apply now.

CGA National CMMC Gap Assessment Grant

Cyber Grants Alliance (CGA) has 73 of its 100 in-kind grants remaining to help defense contractors and manufacturers complete a professional CMMC gap assessment. This is an in-kind grant. The professional assessment services are provided at no cost.

• What You Get: A professional gap assessment against all 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls, conducted by certified CMMC assessors. You receive a prioritized list of your compliance gaps by severity.
• What It Costs: Nothing. The assessment is provided at no cost to you through the CGA grant program, sponsored by Capital Cyber Compliance.
• How to Apply: Complete the online application. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis until all 100 are distributed.

How to Get Started

Taking the first step toward CMMC compliance starts with understanding where your organization stands.

• Step 1: Complete the CGA Grant Application at cybergrantsalliance.org/cmmc-level-2-gap-assessment-grant. Applications take under 10 minutes.
• Step 2: If approved, you will be connected with an independent certified assessor who will coordinate your assessment timeline with you.
• Step 3: Review your prioritized gap list and decide what to fix first. Remediation and implementation help is available separately from Capital Cyber Compliance.
• Step 4: Once remediation is complete, post your self-assessment score in SPRS, and plan for a C3PAO assessment if your contracts require one.

Ready to Start Your CMMC Journey?

Apply for the CGA National CMMC Gap Assessment Grant. 73 of our 100 in-kind grants remain.

Apply for the Grant →

This post is for informational purposes only. Cyber Grants Alliance is a nonprofit providing grant access. Capital Cyber Compliance sponsors the CMMC gap assessment grants and provides professional assessment services.