VA 2.08(5)(d)4.
4. A description of the entrepreneurship training, technical, business, or financial assistance, or other entrepreneurship assistance that it provides to veterans.
VA 2.08(5)(d)5.
5. Most recent annual report or other literature summarizing the organization's programs.
VA 2.08(5)(d)6.
6. List of board members and executive officers including titles and affiliations.
VA 2.08(5)(d)7.
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).
VA 2.08(5)(d)8.
8. Information that demonstrates that the applicant has achieved all of the following required program goals during the previous year:
VA 2.08(5)(d)8.a.
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.
VA 2.08(5)(d)8.b.
b. Increase of collaboration with other agencies to strengthen the delivery of programs, resources, and services to veteran entrepreneurs.
VA 2.08(5)(d)8.c.
c. Expansion of outreach to underserved geographic areas of the state and underserved veteran populations.
VA 2.08(5)(d)9.
9. Disclosure of any other grants funds received from any other state agency for the same or similar purpose.
VA 2.08(5)(d)10.
10. A signed verification of matching funds form, if required by the department.
VA 2.08(5)(e)
(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:
VA 2.08(5)(e)2.
2. The applicant's organizational qualifications and past performance.
VA 2.08(5)(e)4.
4. The applicant's need for grant funding, including a detailed budget.
VA 2.08(5)(e)9.
9. The applicant's past working relationships with other start-up businesses and entrepreneurship programs.
VA 2.08(5)(f)
(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.
VA 2.08(5)(g)1.1. 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.
VA 2.08(5)(g)2.
2. A grant awarded under this section shall be made on forms approved by the department.
VA 2.08(5)(g)3.
3. The award shall be signed by the authorized representative of the department and shall list any conditions to which the award is subject.
VA 2.08(5)(h)
(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.
VA 2.08(5)(i)
(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.
VA 2.08(5)(j)1.ae.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.
VA 2.08(5)(j)1.am.
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.
VA 2.08(5)(j)1.as.
as. A grantee may not use grant funds to purchase capital equipment unless specified in the grant award.
VA 2.08(5)(j)1.b.
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.
VA 2.08(5)(j)1.c.
c. A grantee may not use grant funds to make loans or for repayment of loans or mortgages.
VA 2.08(5)(j)1.d.
d. A grantee may not charge interest or otherwise financially profit from funds awarded under this section.
VA 2.08(5)(j)1.f.
f. A grantee shall comply with any other restrictions as determined by the department.
VA 2.08(5)(j)2.
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.
VA 2.08(5)(j)3.
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.
VA 2.08(5)(k)
(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.
VA 2.08(5)(L)
(L)
Reporting requirements. A grantee receiving a grant under this subsection shall submit to the department data and information specified in the grant agreement.
VA 2.08(5)(m)1.1. `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.
VA 2.08(5)(m)2.
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.
VA 2.08(5)(m)3.
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.
VA 2.08(6)
(6)
Veterans employment and transition support grant program. VA 2.08(6)(a)(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.
VA 2.08(6)(b)1.1. 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.
VA 2.08(6)(b)2.
2. The department may communicate the public notice through print, broadcast, telecommunications media, or the Internet.
VA 2.08(6)(b)3.
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.
VA 2.08(6)(c)
(c)
Eligible applicant. A nonprofit organization is eligible to apply for grant funds under this subsection if it meets all of the following conditions:
VA 2.08(6)(c)1.
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.
VA 2.08(6)(c)2.
2. It is a Wisconsin nonprofit organization that currently serves veterans.
VA 2.08(6)(c)5.
5. It is registered and in good standing with the Wisconsin department of financial institutions.
VA 2.08(6)(c)6.
6. It has been in existence for a minimum of 5 consecutive years preceding the application.
VA 2.08(6)(c)7.
7. It is current on any reporting requirements for previously received grants awarded by the department.
VA 2.08(6)(d)
(d)
Grant application requirements. An application submitted to the department shall include all of the following:
VA 2.08(6)(d)1.
1. A complete application on a form approved by the department and signed by a representative having authority to act for the applicant.
VA 2.08 Note
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).
VA 2.08(6)(d)5.
5. A certificate of status from the Wisconsin department of financial institutions.
VA 2.08 Note
Note:
A Certificate of Status may be obtained from the Department of Financial Institutions at
https://wdfi.org/apps/ccs/.
VA 2.08(6)(d)6.
6. A copy of the signed memorandum of agreement with the regional Veterans Integrated Services Network as required under par.
(c) 1. VA 2.08(6)(d)7.
7. A description of the organization that includes the following information:
VA 2.08(6)(d)7.a.
a. A summary of the services provided to service members and veterans.
VA 2.08(6)(d)7.b.
b. A list of current board members and executive officers including titles and affiliations.
VA 2.08(6)(d)7.c.
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.
VA 2.08(6)(d)7.d.
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.
VA 2.08(6)(d)8.
8. An income statement and balance sheet for the most recent fiscal year.
VA 2.08(6)(d)9.
9. A detailed budget that describes how grant funds will be used.
VA 2.08(6)(d)10.
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.
VA 2.08(6)(d)11.
11. Disclosure of any other grant funds received from the department or any other state agency for the same or a similar purpose.
VA 2.08(6)(e)1.1. The department shall award grants as funds are available.
VA 2.08(6)(e)2.
2. The number of grants awarded during any fiscal year shall be determined by the department.
VA 2.08(6)(e)3.
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.
VA 2.08(6)(f)2.
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.
VA 2.08(6)(g)
(g)
Prohibited use of funds 1. 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.
VA 2.08(6)(g)2.
2. Grant funds awarded under this subsection shall only be used to provide program-related services to a transitioning service member.
VA 2.08(6)(g)3.
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.
VA 2.08(6)(g)4.
4. Grant funds may not be used to purchase capital equipment unless specified in the grant.
