Related statutes or rules
Section 45.47 provides the definition of a grant recipient, details a grant recipient’s record-keeping duties, and provides for reduction, suspension, or termination of funds to grant recipients, in addition to other legal remedies, should a grant recipient fail in those duties. Plain language analysis
The proposed rules established the general criteria, procedures, requirements and conditions for employers and nonprofit organizations to apply for grant funds to assist veteran entrepreneurs, to give employers in this state incentives to hire veterans, especially disabled veterans, and to help fund employment training for veterans, especially disabled veterans.
The proposed rule details the goals grant recipients must meet and requires that those goals be met before any grant moneys are disbursed, as well as regarding the reporting requirements regarding the expenditures of grant moneys, and audits of those records to ensure compliance.
Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal statutes and regulations
The Veterans Employment and Entrepreneurship Grant Program is administered under the authority of state law. There are no existing or proposed federal regulations that address the activities to be regulated by the rule.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states
In reviewing the statutes, rules and websites of veterans departments of adjacent states revealed no similar grant program
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
The Department analyzed the grant processes of state agencies experienced in the administration of grants and used those processes as a foundation for the rule and application procedures.
Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small business or in preparation of economic impact analysis
There is no anticipated impact on small businesses.
Effect on small business
There is no anticipated impact on small businesses.
Fiscal Estimate
This rule will have no fiscal impact on small businesses. The program described by this rule may provide funds to some small businesses. It requires the completion of an application if the business wishes to receive grant funds, but imposes no duty on businesses not wishing to apply for the grant funds.
Comments and opinions prepared by the Board of Veterans Affairs under s. 45.03(2m), Stats. The Board of Veterans Affairs unanimously voted to approve adopting the proposed language to Chapter VA 2.08, the Employment and Entrepreneurship Program, and offered no comments. Department Contact
Kathy Still, Assistant Deputy Secretary
Department of Veterans Affairs
PO Box 7843
Madison, WI 53707-7843
Phone: 608-266-2256
Section 1. VA 2.08 is created to read:
VA 2.08 Veterans employment and entrepreneurship grants. (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, 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:
(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 department approved form used to verify the employee is a veteran and a resident of this state in accordance with sections 45.01(12) and 45.02, Wis. Stats.; and has a service-connected Federal VA disability rating of at least 50%, under 38 USC 1114 or 1134. (c) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of veterans affairs.
(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.
(g) “Evaluation committee” means a committee comprised of members of the board of veterans affairs that evaluates applications made under subsection (5).
(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 whereby 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 subsection (5). (l) “Nonprofit organization” is an organization described in section 501 (c) (3) and 501(c)(6) of the internal revenue code that is exempt from federal income tax under s. 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.
(n) “Underserved geographic areas of the state” means rural communities.
(o) “Underserved veteran populations” means minority groups, women, low-income, veterans with disabilities.
(p) “Veteran” means a person who meets the requirements of s. 45.01 (12), Stats., and resides in the state. (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) GRANT APPLICATION. A grant application shall be submitted on a department approved form. The application shall specify employer and employee contact information and verification of employee employment status. The department may request additional verification of any information provided in the application. 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 sections 45.01(12) and 45.02, Wis. Stats. and has a service-connected Federal VA disability rating of at least 50%, under 38 USC 1114 or 1134. The form shall be submitted directly to the department, either manually or electronically. (c) The department shall not pay a grant to an applicant if the veteran voluntarily or involuntarily leaves his or her 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, and then
2. Multiply the number determined under subd. 1 by $1250 for 6 consecutive months of employment or $2500 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. In this subsection, a nonprofit organization is financially viable if the nonprofit organization can meet its financial obligations for the duration of the grant period, as disclosed in the notice described in paragraph (c).
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. 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. Notice may be made through print, broadcast, or telecommunications media, including the Internet, at the discretion of the department. 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 created by the department.
2. Proof of nonprofit status as a registered 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organization.
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 programs.
