(1) AUTHORITY AND
PURPOSE. The purpose of this section is to establish rules for the
implementation and administration of grants to assist veteran entrepreneurs, to
give employers in this state incentives to hire veterans, especially disabled
veterans, to improve veteran employment outcomes, and to help fund employment
training for veterans, especially disabled veterans, as authorized under s.
45.437, Stats.
(2) APPLICABILITY. This section applies to
grants awarded under s.
45.437, Stats.
(3) DEFINITIONS. In this section the
following terms have the designated meanings:
(a) "Applicant" means an employer or
nonprofit organization located in this state that applies for a grant to
improve employment outcomes for veterans living in this state.
(b) "Certification request" means a form
approved by the department used to verify the employee is a veteran and a
resident of this state in accordance with ss.
45.01(12) and
45.02, Stats., and has a
service-connected disability rating of at least 50 percent, under
38 USC
1114 or
1134.
(d) "Disabled veteran" means a veteran who is
verified by the department to have a service-connected disability rating of at
least 50 percent under 38
USC 1114 or
1134.
(e) "Employee" means a person who is hired
for a wage, salary, fee, or payment to perform work for an employer.
(f) "Employer" means a person or organization
located in the state that employs people, but does not include local, state,
and federal government agencies.
(fe) "Entrepreneur" means an individual who
organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business, enterprise, or
non-profit organization.
(g)
"Evaluation committee" means a committee established to evaluate applications
made under sub. (5) that is comprised of at least one member of the board of
veterans affairs and other individuals appointed by the department.
(gm) "Financially viable" means a nonprofit
organization is able to sustain itself over the long term in order fulfill the
organization's mission and support continuance of the organization's
operations, programs, and services without the sole reliance on grant funds
awarded under this section.
(h)
"Full-time job" means a regular, nonseasonal, full-time position in which an
individual, as a condition of employment, is required to work at least 2,080
hours per year, including paid leave and holidays.
(i) "Grant" means an agreement between the
department and the grantee where the department provides funds from the
appropriation under s.
20.485(2) (qm),
Stats., for the purposes specified in s.
45.437, Stats.
(j) "Grantee" means an employer or nonprofit
organization receiving a grant from the department.
(k) "Grant participant" means a person who
meets the requirements of s.
45.01(12),
Stats., and receives services under sub. (5).
(l) "Nonprofit organization" means an
organization described in section 501 (c) (3) or 501 (c) (6) of the Internal
Revenue Code that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of
the Internal Revenue Code.
(m)
"Part-time job" means a regular, nonseasonal, part-time position in which an
individual, as a condition of employment, is required to work fewer than 2,080
hours per year, including paid leave and holidays.
(mg) "Program" means the veterans employment
and transition support grant program.
(mr) "Transitioning service member" means an
individual who is separating or has separated from the U.S. armed forces to
return to civilian life.
(n)
"Underserved geographic areas of the state" means rural communities.
(o) "Underserved veteran populations" means
minority groups, women, low-income, or veterans with
disabilities.
(4)
VETERANS EMPLOYMENT GRANTS.
(a) From the
appropriation under s.
20.485(2) (qm),
Stats., the department may award a grant in any of the following amounts to any
employer who hires a disabled veteran to work at a business in this state:
1. For each disabled veteran the employer
employs for 12 consecutive months to work a full-time job at the employer's
business in this state, $2,500 following the first 6 months of employment, and
$2,500 following the second 6 months of employment.
2. Subject to par. (d), for each disabled
veteran the employer employs for 12 consecutive months to work a part-time job
at the employer's business in this state, $1,250 following the first 6 months
of employment, and $1,250 following the second 6 months of
employment.
(b)
1. A grant application shall be submitted,
manually or electronically, directly to the department on a form approved by
the department.
2. The application
shall specify employer and employee contact information and verification of
employee employment status.
3. The
department may request additional verification of any information provided in
the application.
4. A certification
request shall be submitted with the application. The certification shall be
used to verify the employee is a veteran and a resident of this state in
accordance with ss. 45.01(12) and
45.02, Stats., and has a
service-connected disability rating of at least 50 percent, under
38 USC
1114 or
1134.
(c) The department may not pay a grant to an
applicant if the veteran voluntarily or involuntarily terminates employment
with the applicant.
(d) The
department shall determine the amount of the grant under sub. (4) (a) as
follows:
1. Divide the number of hours that
the disabled veteran worked for the applicant for 6 consecutive months of
employment by 1040, or for 12 consecutive months of employment by
2,080.
2. Multiply the number
determined under subd. 1. by $1,250 for 6 consecutive months of employment or
$2,500 for 12 consecutive months of employment.
(5) VETERANS ENTREPRENEURSHIP
GRANTS.
(a)
Eligible
applicant. A nonprofit organization is eligible to receive a grant
under this subsection when the organization meets all of the following
conditions:
1. It provides entrepreneurship
training, technical or business assistance, financial assistance, or other
assistance to veteran entrepreneurs to improve employment outcomes.
2. It is current on all federal and state tax
obligations.
3. It is a financially
viable nonprofit organization.
4.
It is registered and in good standing with the Wisconsin department of
financial institutions.
(b)
Competitive solicitation of grant
proposals. The department shall ensure that it conducts all
solicitations of grant proposals in a fair and competitive manner.
(c)
Public notice of solicitation of
grant proposals.1. The department
shall provide reasonable public notice of all solicitations by the department
for proposals for the award of grants by the department under s.
45.437, Stats.
2. Notice may be made through print,
broadcast, or telecommunications media, including the Internet, at the
discretion of the department.
3.
The notice shall include the purpose of the grants and the selection criteria,
application procedures, and all applicable solicitation deadlines that an
applicant is required to meet, or shall contain instructions for obtaining this
information.
(d)
Grant application requirements. A representative of the
applicant having authority to act for the applicant shall sign the application,
ensure that it is complete, and submit it by the deadline. Applications shall
include all of the following:
1. Application
on a form approved by the department.
2. Proof of nonprofit status as an
organization registered under section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
3. Grant request
cover letter that includes a synopsis of the grant proposal and amount of grant
requested.
4. A description of the
entrepreneurship training, technical, business, or financial assistance, or
other entrepreneurship assistance that it provides to veterans.
5. Most recent annual report or other
literature summarizing the organization's programs.
6. List of board members and executive
officers including titles and affiliations.
7. Income statement and balance sheet for the
most recent fiscal year, as well as a budget and income projection for the
grant period, as disclosed in the notice described in sub. (5).
8. Information that demonstrates that the
applicant has achieved all of the following required program goals during the
previous year:
a. Expansion of entrepreneur
opportunities for veterans by providing services that may include
entrepreneurship training, technical and business assistance, financial
assistance, or other entrepreneurship services to veterans.
b. Increase of collaboration with other
agencies to strengthen the delivery of programs, resources, and services to
veteran entrepreneurs.
c. Expansion
of outreach to underserved geographic areas of the state and underserved
veteran populations.
9.
Disclosure of any other grants funds received from any other state agency for
the same or similar purpose.
10. A
signed verification of matching funds form, if required by the
department.
(e)
Evaluation of grant applications. The evaluation committee
shall evaluate grant applications submitted under this subsection against
selection criteria. The department shall develop criteria to evaluate
applicants with regard to all of the following rating categories:
1. The applicant's background and
organizational history.
2. The
applicant's organizational qualifications and past performance.
3. The applicant's experience working with
veterans.
4. The applicant's need
for grant funding, including a detailed budget.
5. The applicant's outreach and referral
plan.
6. The applicant's program
implementation timeline.
7. The
applicant's monitoring and program evaluation.
8. The applicant's program goals and
objectives.
9. The applicant's past
working relationships with other start-up businesses and entrepreneurship
programs.
(f)
Notification of award or denial of grant. The department shall
notify each applicant in writing of its decision to award or not award a grant
in accordance with the public notice under this subsection.
(g)
Grant awards.
1. The department shall award grants to the
applicants with the highest numerical scores determined under the criteria
developed under par. (e) as funds are available.
2. A grant awarded under this section shall
be made on forms approved by the department.
3. The award shall be signed by the
authorized representative of the department and shall list any conditions to
which the award is subject.
(h)
Grant acceptance. The
authorized representative of the recipient nonprofit organization shall accept
the grant award by signing the award document and returning it to the
department. The department may terminate a grant award if the award is not
accepted within 10 calendar days of the date of issuance by the
department.
(i)
Amount of
grants. The amount of each grant will be based on the amount requested
and the amount approved by the evaluation committee. The grant award may not
exceed the amount requested.
(j)
Restrictions.1. 'Prohibited
use of funds.'
ae. Grant funds shall be used
only for the payment or reimbursement of reasonable and appropriate expenses
assignable to the approved purposes of the grant. Any other use of grant funds
is prohibited.
am. A grantee may
not use more than a percentage, as determined by the department, of the grant
funds for employee wages, compensation, travel, and related expenses assignable
to the approved program.
as. A
grantee may not use grant funds to purchase capital equipment unless specified
in the grant award.
b. A grantee
agrees that no grant appropriated funds will be paid to any person for
influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency,
any member of the Wisconsin legislature, or an employee of a member of the
legislature in connection with the awarding of any state contract, the making
of any state grant, the making of any state loan, the entering into of any
cooperative agreement, or the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or
modification of any state contract, grant, loan, or cooperative
agreement.
c. A grantee may not use
grant funds to make loans or for repayment of loans or mortgages.
d. A grantee may not charge interest or
otherwise financially profit from funds awarded under this section.
e. A grantee may not reassign grant
funds.
f. A grantee shall comply
with any other restrictions as determined by the department.
2. 'Violation of prohibited use of
funds.' If a grantee uses grant funds for prohibited activities under par. (a),
the department may terminate the grant and recover funds previously paid to the
grantee for that funding period on a recoupment schedule specified by the
department.
3. 'Record keeping.' A
grantee shall maintain grant records for at least 3 years and shall provide
information to the department as required by the department for the purposes of
program or fiscal audits and, at the request of the department, shall appear
before the department to respond to any questions about the grant and use of
grant funds.
(k)
Eligibility and certification. A grantee shall verify
eligibility of each grant participant. Only eligible grant participants shall
receive services funded by a grant awarded under this subsection.
(l)
Reporting requirements.
A grantee receiving a grant under this subsection shall submit to the
department data and information specified in the grant agreement.
(m)
Assurances and
certifications.1. 'Authority to sign
and accept funds.' The grantee shall certify that the designated signatory
official has the authority to sign on behalf of the grantee and has the
authority to accept funds.
2.
'Compliance statement.' Before the department releases grant funds, the grantee
shall provide a statement that it is in compliance with applicable state and
federal laws, rules, and regulations, including tax laws, the requirements of
this section, and the grant award.
3. 'Nondiscrimination and equal opportunity.'
In accordance with s.
16.765, Stats., the grantee
shall follow all state and federal anti-discrimination laws and equal
employment opportunity practices in the administration and delivery of program
services to eligible applicants.
(6) VETERANS EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSITION
SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM.
(a)
Purpose. The purpose of the program is to award grants to
nonprofit organizations that develop and maintain a peer network of mentors to
connect transitioning service members with employment opportunities.
(b)
Public notice.
1. The department shall provide reasonable
public notice of solicitations of grants awarded under this subsection to
enable any eligible applicant to submit an application throughout the fiscal
year subject to the availability of funds.
2. The department may communicate the public
notice through print, broadcast, telecommunications media, or the
Internet.
3. The notice shall
include the purpose of the grant solicitation, eligibility criteria,
application requirements and procedures, and any applicable deadlines that an
applicant is required to meet or shall contain instructions for obtaining this
information.
(c)
Eligible applicant. A nonprofit organization is eligible to
apply for grant funds under this subsection if it meets all of the following
conditions:
1. It has a signed memorandum of
agreement with the regional Veterans Integrated Services Network for the
purpose of assisting servicemembers throughout the transition process from
military through civilian life.
2.
It is a Wisconsin nonprofit organization that currently serves
veterans.
3. It is current on all
federal and state tax obligations.
4. It is a financially viable nonprofit
organization.
5. It is registered
and in good standing with the Wisconsin department of financial
institutions.
6. It has been in
existence for a minimum of 5 consecutive years preceding the
application.
7. It is current on
any reporting requirements for previously received grants awarded by the
department.
(d)
Grant application requirements. An application submitted to
the department shall include all of the following:
1. A complete application on a form approved
by the department and signed by a representative having authority to act for
the applicant.
Note: The application form may be obtained on the
Department's website at https://dva.wi.gov, or by request from the
Department of Veterans Affairs, 2135 Rimrock Road, P.O. Box 7843, Madison, WI
53707-7843, or call 800-WIS-VETS (800-947-8387).
2. A cover letter.
3. The amount of grant funds
requested.
4. Proof of the
organization's nonprofit status.
5.
A certificate of status from the Wisconsin department of financial
institutions.
Note: A Certificate of Status may be obtained from
the Department of Financial Institutions at
https://wdfi.org/apps/ccs/.
6. A copy of the signed memorandum of
agreement with the regional Veterans Integrated Services Network as required
under par. (c) 1.
7. A description
of the organization that includes the following information:
a. A summary of the services provided to
service members and veterans.
b. A
list of current board members and executive officers including titles and
affiliations.
c. A statement that
demonstrates the organization's experience with or how it proposes to recruit
and maintain a network of trained and certified veteran peer mentors.
d. A statement that demonstrates the
organization's experience with or how it proposes to connect veterans with
relevant employment opportunities proportionate to the transitioning service
member's level of skill, training, education, and experience attained through
military service and personal development.
8. An income statement and balance sheet for
the most recent fiscal year.
9. A
detailed budget that describes how grant funds will be used.
10. A statement that the organization is in
compliance with applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations,
including tax laws, and the requirements of this subsection.
11. Disclosure of any other grant funds
received from the department or any other state agency for the same or a
similar purpose.
12. Any other
relevant information required by the department.
(e)
Grant awards.
1. The department shall award grants as funds
are available.
2. The number of
grants awarded during any fiscal year shall be determined by the
department.
3. The grant
application shall list any conditions to which the grant award is subject and
as part of the grant application the representative having authority to act for
the applicant, who signed the grant application, shall agree to be bound by
those terms and conditions.
(f)
Amount of grants.
1. The department may allocate grant funds to
support the program, subject to availability of funds under s.
20.485(2) (qm),
Stats.
2. The amount of each grant
shall be determined by the department based on the amount requested but may not
exceed the amount requested and may not exceed $20,000 per applicant during any
fiscal year.
(g)
Prohibited use of funds1.
Grant funds shall only be used for the payment or reimbursement of reasonable
and appropriate expenses that relate to improving employment outcomes.
Reasonable and appropriate expenses are solely expenses that are consistent
with the approved purposes of the grant as determined by the department. Any
other use of grant funds is prohibited.
2. Grant funds awarded under this subsection
shall only be used to provide program-related services to a transitioning
service member.
3. A grantee may
not use more than a percentage, as determined by the department, of the grant
funds for employee wages, compensation, and travel expenses incurred while
performing program-related work.
4.
Grant funds may not be used to purchase capital equipment unless specified in
the grant.
5. Grant funds may not
be used to pay any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer
or employee of any agency, any member of the Wisconsin legislature, or an
employee of a member of the legislature in connection with the awarding of any
state contract, the making of any state grant, the making of any state loan,
the entering into of any cooperative agreement, or the extension, continuation,
renewal, amendment, or modification of any state contract, grant, loan, or
cooperative agreement.
6. A grantee
may not charge interest or otherwise financially profit from grant funds
awarded under this subsection.
7. A
grantee may not reassign grant funds awarded under this subsection.
8. If a grantee uses grant funds for
prohibited activities, the department may terminate the grant and recover funds
previously paid to the grantee for that funding period on a recoupment schedule
specified by the department.
(h)
Reporting requirements.
A grantee shall submit to the department data and information specified in the
grant application terms and conditions.
(i)
Record keeping.
1. A grantee shall maintain grant records for
at least 6 years and shall provide required information to the department upon
request.
2. The department may
audit a grantee's records to ensure compliance with applicable grant
requirements in accordance with s.
45.47, Stats.
(j)
Assurances and
certifications.1. 'Authority to sign
and accept funds.' The grantee shall certify that the designated signatory
official has the authority to sign on behalf of the grantee and has the
authority to accept funds.
2.
'Nondiscrimination and equal opportunity.' In accordance with s.
16.765, Stats., the grantee
shall follow all state and federal anti-discrimination laws and equal
employment opportunity practices in the administration and delivery of services
funded under this program.