WDVA Awards $550,000 to Veteran Nonprofits
The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a total of $550,000 in grants to 14 nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving Wisconsin veterans and their families. These organizations offer services ranging from financial aid and job training to entrepreneurship programs and mental health support.
“Every year, I’m reminded of how much these organizations do for Wisconsin veterans, often reaching people our department can’t reach on our own,” said Secretary James Bond. “These grants help fund emergency assistance, mental health support, housing, business training, and so much more. I’m proud of the partnership WDVA has with these nonprofits and grateful for everything they do on behalf of those who served.”
The grants are from two programs: the Veteran Nonprofit Grant, available to all registered nonprofits that serve veterans, and the Veteran Entrepreneurship Grant, open to nonprofits that specifically provide entrepreneurship or technical, business, or other assistance to veteran entrepreneurs to improve employment outcomes.
This year’s Nonprofit Grant recipients ($250,000 in total) are:
Fox Valley Veterans Council received $25,000 for their Veterans Emergency Assistance Program, providing immediate financial aid to veterans and their families for housing, utilities, food, transportation, dental care, and other essential needs.
Heroes for Healthcare received $25,000 to align military medical skillsets and training with civilian medical education and licensing requirements, helping service members and veterans apply their prior training toward civilian education.
The Highground Veterans Memorial Park received $25,000 for multiple programs, including three-day healing retreats for veterans, musical instruments and lessons, and mental health and educational exhibits.
Paralyzed Veterans of America-Wisconsin Chapter received $25,000 to enable expanded services for disabled veterans, including outreach, therapeutic services, and direct disability assistance.
Rock Valley Community Programs received $25,000 to provide transitional housing assistance, substance abuse therapies, and other supports to housing-challenged or homeless veterans.
Shield of Sisters received $25,000 to provide healing retreats for female veterans, with programming tailored to survivors of military sexual trauma and a focus on suicide prevention.
Sofas For Service received $25,000 to provide furnishings and household goods to veterans in need.
Trinity Equestrian Center received $25,000 to provide equine therapy and other supports to the Wisconsin veteran community, focused on mental health, community building, and recreational wellness.
Vets & Friends of Wisconsin received $25,000 to provide veterans with peer support, meals, and community building in the Appleton/Fox Valley area.
The War Memorial Center received $25,000 to support services provided to Veteran Service Organizations and tenants of the Veterans Operation Center, along with veteran engagement and community outreach programs.
This year’s Entrepreneurship Grant recipients ($300,000 in total) are:
Develop America received $100,000 to develop and launch the Veteran Connect Opportunity Network, a program designed to link and support Veteran Entrepreneurs with access to technologies, infrastructure, training, and financial support for growth of their businesses.
Fox Valley Technical College received $46,124 to support the Innovation Accelerator for Veterans program, which will serve 12 Veteran Entrepreneurs with networking opportunities, training, access to seed funding and financial supports, in collaboration with the FVTC Venture Center.
Lakeland University received $53,876 for the creation of the Vetrepreneur Conference, serving 50 Veteran Entrepreneurs with training, networking, access to financial supports, pitch competitions, and ongoing technical supports.
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) received $100,000 to support cohort and individualized training, technical assistance, mentoring, networking, technological support, and access to financial supports through pitch competitions and mentored development, serving up to 165 Veteran Entrepreneurs.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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