Veterans Retraining Grant

The Veterans Retraining Grant is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, which states that veterans must first establish Wisconsin veteran status to obtain benefits and services under the eligibility criteria outlined in Wisconsin Statutes section 45.01(12) and section 45.02. The program is presented as part of WDVA's employment grants and is intended to support veterans who are trying to reenter or stabilize their place in the workforce after a job loss, a reduction in wages, or notice of termination. The grant is specifically framed as an employment-focused retraining benefit rather than a general education scholarship, and the funder positions it as a targeted support tool for veterans with demonstrated financial need while they prepare for new employment. Programmatically, the grant is designed for recently unemployed or underemployed veterans, or veterans who have received notice of termination, and it may provide up to 3000 dollars per year for a maximum of two years, for a total of two retraining grants. WDVA states that the actual award amount is determined by the applicant's financial need as calculated by the department. The source text also says the program is the payer of last resort, which means applicants are expected to pursue other available training funds before relying on this grant. The fact sheet specifically directs veterans to work with veterans representatives at local Wisconsin Job Centers and with school financial aid officials to access other resources, including Workforce Investment Act funds, before applying. This establishes that the grant is intended to fill remaining need rather than serve as a first-line funding source. The source places several substantive restrictions on eligibility and use. Loss of employment or reduction in wages must not have been caused by the veteran's voluntary actions. The triggering employment disruption or notice of termination must have occurred within the twelve months preceding WDVA's receipt of the application, unless the applicant is seeking a second grant and received a retraining grant within thirteen months before the department receives that second application. The applicant must also have been employed for at least six consecutive months with the same employer or in the same or similar occupations. For underemployed applicants, current annual employment income must not exceed the federal poverty guidelines for the veteran's family size. On the training side, the applicant must be enrolled in a qualifying training course at a Wisconsin technical college or engaged in an on-the-job training program anticipated to be completed within two years from the date WDVA receives the application. The training must reasonably be expected to lead to employment. The grant supports more than one training pathway. For classroom-based retraining, eligible programs include Wisconsin technical colleges and, in some cases, private occupational and trade schools approved by the Education Approval Program, provided those schools do not offer four-year degrees or four-year programs. For on-the-job training, the fact sheet explains that the benefit is paid to the employer to offset wages paid during a specified training period. The source also limits double-dipping across WDVA benefits by stating that an applicant may receive a second retraining grant no sooner than one year after the first grant was issued and may not receive a Retraining Grant and WDVA's Veterans Education Grant for the same grant period or semester. No cost share or match requirement is stated for applicants or employers. Submission requirements are straightforward and are tied to the training type. Veterans must submit form WDVA 2019 to apply for the Retraining Grant. If the request involves an on-the-job training grant, the veteran must submit both WDVA 2019 and WDVA 2039. The public-facing summary also notes that, for on-the-job training programs, employers must submit the OJT Retraining Grant Application, which aligns with the WDVA 2039 reference in the fact sheet. The forms may be submitted directly to the department, and applicants may also use their County Veterans Service Officer for help completing and submitting the materials. The source identifies email submission as the required delivery channel for applications and supporting documentation and provides the program email address for that purpose. It also points applicants to the retraining grant webpage for the forms and to the county or tribal veterans service officer network for assistance. The timeline is notably flexible. The grant listing identifies the application window as ongoing, which indicates that the opportunity is open continuously rather than tied to a single annual deadline. The source materials do not provide a formal opening date, closing date, review cycle, award notification schedule, or performance period beyond the substantive rule that the qualifying training program must be expected to be completed within two years of the date WDVA receives the application. No scored evaluation rubric is described in the provided materials, but the decision process clearly depends on WDVA's calculation of financial need and on whether the applicant satisfies the employment, veteran status, and training program conditions. Contact points include the application email address, the general WDVA phone number, the department's general email, and the retraining grant webpage, all of which reinforce that this is a currently available statewide benefit for eligible Wisconsin veterans seeking employment-focused retraining.

Use other available training funds first because WDVA describes this program as the payer of last resort; include other education or retraining grants when documenting financial need; confirm the job loss or wage reduction was not caused by voluntary action and occurred within the required lookback period; choose a training program that is expected to lead to employment and can be completed within 2 years.