Illinois. January 18, 2024. –
Following the successful implementation of the inaugural Cyber-Safe Incentive Program, the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) is pleased to announce the reopening of the program for 2024. Building upon the achievements of the first initiative, which assisted 77 Illinois manufacturers and invested over $1.3 million in enhancing cyber resiliency, IMEC is dedicated to furthering its commitment to advancing cybersecurity readiness for small and mid-sized manufacturers across the state.
The Cyber-Safe Incentive Program, initially launched in 2023, was designed to alleviate financial barriers and provide crucial funding for implementation and monitoring costs related to cybersecurity for manufacturers. As a testament to its success, the program facilitated the fortification of cyber defenses for manufacturers, contributing to the resilience of Illinois’ manufacturing sector.
David Boulay, Ph.D., President of IMEC, highlights the significance of the program’s impact on the local manufacturing landscape. “The initial Cyber-Safe Incentive Program played a pivotal role in strengthening the cyber defenses of Illinois manufacturers. Now, in 2024, we are excited to reopen the program, continuing our mission to empower small and mid-sized manufacturers in Illinois with the resources needed to thrive in the digital age.”
The 2024 Cyber-Safe Incentive Program will offer eligible manufacturers awards of up to $25,000 to reimburse documented expenditures on contractual services, infrastructure costs (software/hardware), and other approved expenses directly associated with cybersecurity implementation and monitoring. Approximately 50 awards will be granted in this iteration of the program, with award amounts capped at 50% of the company’s documented expenditures.
Manufacturers interested in participating in the program can find detailed information and application procedures on the official IMEC website at www.imec.org/cybersafe or by contacting grants@imec.org.
About the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC)
IMEC is a team of improvement specialists who are dedicated to changing lives and creating a positive impact on Illinois’ workforce and economy. With a mission to drive growth through enterprise excellence, they help organizations become more effective and efficient by identifying issues, developing and implementing solutions, and providing the necessary support that will allow them to excel in areas of leadership, strategy, customer engagement, operations, workforce, and measurement and results. In 2023, they assisted over 2,500 companies and helped create or retain over 5,200 jobs, resulting in over $650M aggregate impact to the Illinois economy. IMEC has seven offices statewide and 48 full-time industry improvement specialists. For more information, visit www.imec.org.
Media Contact:
Jaclyn Kolodziej – Marketing Manager
Phone: 608-201-5076
Email: jkolodziej@imec.org
