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Council approves applying for .gov domain migration grant to strengthen cybersecurity
Summary
Middletown approved applying for a round3.gov domain migration grant (up to $9,500 with a 20% match) to migrate the city's website and email to a .gov domain; the information-systems director said the move improves trust, reduces impersonation risk and brings free cybersecurity services from the state.
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — City council voted Feb. 3 to apply for and accept a Department of Homeland Security/state round3.gov domain migration grant that would support moving cityofmiddletown.org to a .gov domain.
Troy Anderton, the city’s information systems director, told council the grant covers eligible migration expenses (email, website updates, consulting) up to $9,500 with a required 20% local match. Anderton said a .gov domain is issued only to government entities, which reduces the risk of impersonation and cybersquatting, and that participating jurisdictions receive free cybersecurity services coordinated through the state.
“Only the federal government can issue .gov domains,” Anderton said, explaining the trust and fraud‑prevention benefits. He said the city has until the application deadline (March 13) to select an allowable domain name—options include cityofmiddletownohio.gov or middletown‑oh.gov—and that the migration likely will be phased, with a targeted hard cut in 2027. Council members asked timing and cost questions; staff said they are still finalizing reimbursable expenses and do not expect to reach the $9,500 cap.
Council moved, seconded and approved the authorization to apply for and accept the grant; the vote was by roll call. The grant decision will determine eligible reimbursable costs and a later staff report will recommend the exact domain string and match funding source if the grant is awarded.
