Middletown Seeks DHS .gov Domain Migration Grant Worth $9,500

Middletown City Council’s agenda packet posted for its Feb. 17, 2026 meeting includes legislation to apply for and accept a Round 3 .gov Domain Migration Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the State & Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, with the grant capped at up to $9,500. The single-paragraph item in the packet is truncated after “with a,” leaving key terms such as match requirements, allowable uses, and deadlines unspecified in the public text.

The packet language follows the city’s standard consent agenda procedure that “matters listed under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion and one vote of consent,” and notes that items may “be removed and considered separately.” The agenda excerpt does not state whether the .gov domain migration grant item was placed on the consent agenda or whether any council member requested separate consideration at the Feb. 17 meeting; the council’s minutes or video of that meeting will be needed to confirm any vote or discussion.

The absence of full grant terms is significant for municipal procurement and cybersecurity planning in Middletown, Ohio, which operates across Butler and Warren counties and references Ohio Revised Code provisions elsewhere in its agenda materials. City officials and the public lack the packet’s promised details on whether the $9,500 would cover vendor migration fees, staff labor, domain registration and verification, or require a local match - items that determine whether the award materially advances the city’s ability to migrate to a .gov domain and improve DNS security.

Federal grant activity has figured repeatedly in Middletown’s recent agendas: the March 19, 2024 business meeting packet authorized the City Manager to apply for the FY 2023 DHS SAFER Grant Program to hire seven new firefighter/EMTs/Paramedics, and Resolution No. R2024-08 adjusted appropriations tied to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Fund for Neighborhood Revitalization. The same packet included Resolution No. R2024-09 approving the Warren County countywide 911 final plan, illustrating the council’s ongoing reliance on federal funds for emergency services and neighborhood projects.

Personnel moves and near-term civic events also appear in the council record surrounding the Feb. 17 packet. January 2026 consent items confirmed conditional firefighter appointments for Joshua Marorrow, Kendall Miller, Timothy Payne, Jacob Adams, and Jesse Garcia, and recorded Oaths of Office for Ken Brown, Jennifer Ferris, David Lindberg, and Evan Snelling. City Manager Miss Ashley Combmes told council members that the city’s strategic planning retreat will be held February 20 and 21 at Houston Woods and that “Ken Brown, our new communications manager, did post that agenda here at 3:00 today.”

Middletown, Connecticut’s Health Department separately posted a Public Health Block Grant opportunity on Jan. 21, 2026 and is accepting FY2026-2027 applications from non-profits and health organizations serving Middletown residents; applications are due by 4:30 PM on Friday, March 13, 2026. Kevin Elak, Director of Health for Middletown, CT, said, “This is a great opportunity for organizations to receive funding for small projects,” and can be reached at 860-638-4972 with the city office at 245 deKoven Drive, Middletown, CT 06457.

To determine whether Middletown, Ohio will proceed with application and acceptance of the DHS domain migration funds, the city’s full Feb. 17, 2026 agenda packet and the minutes or video of the council meeting should be released or reviewed to disclose the complete grant language, any council authorization motion, and subsequent implementation steps.