Chicopee accepts state cybersecurity awareness grant for city and schools

The Chicopee City Council voted on April 15 to accept the 2025 municipal cybersecurity awareness grant from the Commonwealth Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) for the City of Chicopee and the Chicopee Public Schools.

Why it matters: Several speakers said school systems and municipalities are frequent targets of cyberattacks and that staff training materially reduces the risk of successful intrusions. Acceptance allows the city and schools to access the state training system and threat-simulation exercises.

What was said at the meeting

- The mayor introduced the order (Mass. Gen. Laws c.44, §53A accepted as gift) and noted the grant will improve the city’s cybersecurity posture through end-user training, evaluation and threat simulation.

- Interim IT staff (identified in the meeting as Concha Balakir and an interim director) said the state provides the training platform and the state pays for access; city and school employees will undertake the training modules and simulations through the state system.

- Councilors emphasized the importance of user training to reduce the likelihood of successful attacks and thanked staff for pursuing the grant.

Vote and next steps

- The council approved the acceptance by roll call (recorded as 12 yes). The interim IT office and the school department will coordinate participation and the city will follow grant reporting and reimbursement rules established by EOTSS.

Ending

Councilors described the grant as an important step in bolstering municipal and school cybersecurity; staff committed to returning with implementation details and a schedule for enrolling employees in the state platform.