Funding

The Long Island Manufacturing Extension Partnership (LIMEP) is a New York State-supported organization that helps Long Island manufacturers strengthen operations, improve competitiveness, and access resources for growth. LIMEP supports local businesses through guidance, funding opportunities, workforce development, process improvement, technology adoption, and compliance initiatives, including cybersecurity and CMMC readiness for defense contractors.

This program offers small businesses with 500 or fewer employees up to $200,000 annually to offset the administrative costs of securing and maintaining federal security clearances in Maryland. Qualifying companies can also secure up to $200,000 for a single SCIF construction project, or up to $500,000 for multiple builds, alongside financial assistance for first-year commercial leasing expenses. The state allocates a total pool of $2 million each calendar year for all participants, which is distributed on a pro-rata basis if the program becomes oversubscribed.

Maryland offers a nonrefundable 50% tax credit to local businesses with fewer than 50 employees that buy cybersecurity products or services from a certified state vendor. This incentive is capped at $50,000 per buyer each tax year, can be renewed annually for ongoing service agreements, and features a $200,000 annual limit per cybersecurity seller. The state caps the overall program at $4 million per year, distributing funds on a first-come, first-served basis. Early in 2026, legislative proposals sought to remove the employee limit, increase the seller cap to $1 million, make the credit refundable, and establish a 2030 expiration date; however, despite passing the Senate unanimously, the legislation stalled in the House and officially failed by April 2026, meaning the original restrictive terms remain locked in for the 2026 tax year.

It is highly recommended to monitor the state legislature for a potential reintroduction of these expansion bills during the 2027 General Assembly session. Always confirm current rules on the official Maryland Commerce and General Assembly websites before basing any strategic financial plans on potential program updates.

Connecticut provides a dollar-for-dollar matching grant program to assist businesses with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) expenses. This state initiative offers up to $10,000 for compliance assessments and a maximum of $25,000 for remediation efforts, subject to an overall lifetime funding limit of $35,000 per applicant. To qualify, companies are required to hire an approved third-party contractor and must formally lodge their application prior to commencing any project activities, though operations can begin immediately once submission is finalized. Managed directly by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), the program draws its financial backing from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Manufacturing Innovation Fund.

The MassTech Center for Advanced Manufacturing offers a capital cost-share initiative under its MMAP framework, which historically granted up to $30,000 for hardware and infrastructure enhancements like servers, network overhauls, badge scanners, and firewalls. However, official program documentation has shifted to the past tense, detailing past assistance for small-to-midsize state manufacturers and highlighting only the March 2025 grant winners with no 2026 scheduling in sight. This strongly suggests the resource is either offline or temporarily frozen, meaning those seeking current Massachusetts funding should look instead to the Cyber Resilient MA Grant, which remains active under the 2026-Cyber-01 notice.

It is critical to reach out to MassTech CAM to verify the current availability of this matching grant before finalizing any project expectations. For immediate financial backing within the state, the Cyber Resilient MA Grant serves as the primary operational substitute.

The Cyber Resilient Massachusetts Grant provides up to $25,000 to cover Security Operations Center (SOC) services and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) packages delivered through CyberTrust Massachusetts. This initiative extends financial backing for these security protections for a duration of up to three years, making it accessible to local small enterprises and non-profit organizations. It specifically addresses the continuous monitoring components required for CMMC alignment rather than initial gap analyses or technical fixes, meaning it should be utilized alongside separate state resources for comprehensive compliance funding.

The University of Michigan Economic Growth Institute provides cost-share funding alongside expert consultant referrals through the Michigan Defense Resiliency Program (MDRP), a resource formerly known as the Defense Cybersecurity Assurance Program (DCAP). Designed to support in-state defense manufacturers, this initiative covers both cybersecurity compliance frameworks and strategic succession planning. To qualify for assistance, businesses must demonstrate that a minimum of 10% of their revenue is derived from Department of Defense contracts, either currently or at some point within the last five years, though note that the separate Michigan Defense CyberSmart Program has concluded operations.

Maryland manufacturers can access cybersecurity services including gap analyses, System Security Plan (SSP) development, Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) support, and specialized cybersecurity training. While the initial federal Defense Cybersecurity Assistance Program (DCAP) grant backed by the DoD OLDCC concluded its run after operating from 2018 to 2022, Maryland MEP continues to deliver these essential cybersecurity resources. They report that certain funding opportunities remain accessible, so businesses should reach out directly to Sara Keith at MD MEP to verify exactly which services qualify under the current program scope.

The formal federal DCAP funding stream officially dried up at the end of 2022. Because Maryland MEP now maintains these operations using alternative funding structures, it is highly recommended to clarify the current project scope and financial coverage limits before mapping out your compliance strategy.

GENEDGE serves as Virginia’s MEP center and a CMMC Registered Provider Organization (RPO), utilizing a pre-qualified network of over 25 cybersecurity vendors to deliver CMMC services at pre-negotiated rates. Through this framework, GENEDGE facilitates a Department of Defense grant that covers up to 80% of DFARS 252.204-7012 assessment expenses specifically for manufacturers based in Virginia. Interested companies should contact the organization directly to verify the current availability of the grant and confirm their eligibility requirements.

The Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center serves as the state’s official NIST MEP, offering comprehensive CMMC pre-assessments, compliance guidance, and specialized support from certified CMMC professionals. Instead of functioning as a direct cash grant initiative, the program administers financial assistance by sharing the cost of specific services. To scope out project needs and verify the current availability of these cost-sharing resources, businesses are encouraged to get in touch with the center directly.

North Carolina State University’s Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) provides defense contractors with complimentary CMMC consultations, access to selective Defense Industry Initiatives funding opportunities, and specialized cybersecurity training. This resource does not operate as a direct cash grant program; instead, the available funding is project-based and awarded on a selective basis. Organizations interested in exploring current financial support for their compliance projects should contact IES directly to discuss active opportunities.

The Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) provides localized cybersecurity cost-share programs and advisory support by operating through six distinct regional partners distributed across the state. Because funding levels and specific program terms fluctuate depending on the territory, businesses need to get in touch with their designated regional partner directly to determine the current services and financial assistance available to them.

The Pennsylvania Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) coordinates cybersecurity cost-share incentives and technical advisory support through a network of seven distinct Industrial Resource Centers located across the state. Because the amount of financial assistance and specific project criteria change depending on the individual center and the scope of work, businesses should contact their local Industrial Resource Center directly to confirm current program availability.

New York small- to medium-sized manufacturers can access up to $6,000 to cover phase-one cybersecurity assessments under the New York MEP Advanced Manufacturing Initiative. This specific program is led by the Advanced Institute for Manufacturing (AIM) at Mohawk Valley Community College, which initially provided funding for 67 assessments out of a cohort of 320 participating manufacturers. It is important to note that while FuzeHub administers separate Manufacturing Grants providing up to $65,000, those are general innovation incentives rather than programs tailored to CMMC compliance.

The CMMC-specific New York MEP funding is structured and managed directly by AIM at MVCC. Conversely, the larger manufacturing grants offered by FuzeHub operate independently and focus on broader industrial innovation.

The California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC) serves as the state’s official NIST MEP, delivering dedicated technical cybersecurity assistance, CMMC gap analysis, and comprehensive compliance planning tailored for California-based manufacturers. To outline your project requirements and explore available resources, you should contact the organization directly to scope out the work.