WDVA Announces Grant Awards for Wisconsin Veterans Organizations
Thank you, Governor Evers, Secretary Kolar, and WDVA for working to secure this funding
(MADISON)—Today, Senator Tim Carpenter issued the following statement regarding the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) grant awards totaling $620,940 for organizations helping Wisconsin’s Veterans. These grants have been awarded to organizations throughout Wisconsin, for a list of the organizations in and near the 3rd Senate District that won the awards, please see page two of this release.
“It makes me very happy to see this significant effort to secure resources for organizations that serve Wisconsin’s veteran community. This past year has been one of the most difficult in my memory for so many of our fellow Wisconsinites, including the men and women who have served our state and country in the military.
“This funding will be like a shot in the arm for organizations like Heroes for Healthcare, the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative, the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce, and many others who are working for Wisconsin’s veterans.
“I would like to thank Governor Evers, WDVA Secretary Mary Kolar and her tremendous staff at the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs for working hard to secure grant funding for organizations that are serving veterans. Of the $620,940 that the department announced today, $311,000 was awarded to organizations that are either in, or headquartered near the 3rd Senate District.
“The WDVA also deserves congratulations for the successful and informative series of virtual roundtables that they held earlier this month to get direct input from veterans on how our state can better support them in the upcoming state budget. As the ranking member of the Senate Committee focusing on Veterans Affairs, I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in one of these roundtables, and look forward to continuing to work with the WDVA and Wisconsin’s veterans community at large during the next session.”
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This year’s Non-profit Grant recipients in and near the 3rd Senate District are:
Heroes for Healthcare, Inc., (West Allis) is awarded $25,000 to continue to provide free services for veterans who have or are transitioning from military medical fields and seeking healthcare employment in Wisconsin. This grant will allow Heroes for Healthcare to lay the groundwork to create a program based on the foundation of Virginia’s Military Medics and Corpsmen Program. In addition, grant funds will assist in the hiring of an administrative coordinator, marketing, and reduce veterans’ costs not covered by the GI Bill.
Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative (West Allis) is awarded $25,000 to be used for general operating expenses and to support numerous programs for veterans and their families. Those programs include Crisis Management, the Emergency Food Pantry, and the Women Veterans Initiative.
United Service Organizations (USO) Wisconsin (Milwaukee) is awarded $25,000 to continue the support for and expansion of programs at Fort McCoy to include mobile centers, food, new staff, expansion of storage, event supplies, and technology.
Wisconsin Veterans Chamber Foundation, Inc., (Milwaukee) is awarded $25,000 to support the creation of the Veterans Economic Wellness Report. The Wisconsin Veterans Chamber Foundation will engage with researchers at UW-Milwaukee to compile available data and research, and create an annual report providing accurate information on issues impacting the quality of life of Wisconsin veterans and their dependents to identify and monitor the critical needs of Wisconsin’s veteran population.
Wisconsin Veterans Network, Inc., (West Allis) is awarded $15,000 to support the Intake, Assessment, and Advocacy Programs, including salaries for their Navigators and emergency funds used to assist veterans in crisis situations.
This year’s Entrepreneurship Grant recipients in and near the 3rd Senate District are:
Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce, Inc., (Milwaukee) is awarded $100,000.00 to support the Veteran Business Initiative program. The grant funds will be used to support education, networking, and promotional programming dedicated to supporting veteran-own businesses across Wisconsin. By coordinating existing resources, offering educational programming for veterans, and organizing a new market of consumers, the program aims to create opportunities for sustainable growth of veteran-owned business.
Wisconsin Hero Outdoors (Pewaukee) is awarded $96,000 to support and expand the Veteran Internship Program. The program allows veteran-students, particularly those in underserved populations, to obtain firsthand experience on how to start a nonprofit organization and how to operate and grow the organization. The grant funds will allow the program to increase the number of veteran-student participants by hiring a development director to oversee the program and allow WHO to increase advertising.
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