WDVA Bulletin 1116: State Fiscal Year 2026 County and American Indian Veterans Service Grants

March 30, 2026 - Madison, WI

TO:     County and Tribal Veterans Service Offices

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs is pleased to announce that the State Fiscal Year 2026 County and American Indian Veterans Services Grants will open on 1:00pm CST, March 30, 2026, on the Grant Submission and Management Portal (“Grant Portal”). All applications are to be submitted no later than 5:00pm CST, May 15, 2026.

The grant applications are available online at: https://dva.wi.gov/benefits/grants/local-government-grants/

We are also pleased to announce that we will be issuing payment electronically to your offices this year, with appreciation to all of our partners for completing your electronic payment forms earlier this year. The Department will review submitted applications on a weekly basis during this grant period and will issue payment to eligible recipients as applications are received and reviewed, meaning that earlier applicants will receive earlier payment. The County grants are based on population size and will be paid on a rolling basis as applications are received; the American Indian Veterans Service Grants require a separate calculation and will be paid as soon as all eligible applicants provide your applications.

Section 45.82 of the Wisconsin Statutes has been amended to remove the distinction for “part-time CVSOs” and to increase the amount available to all recipients:

• $12,300 for counties with a population from 1-19,999;
• $14,400 for counties with a population from 20,000-45,499;
• $16,600 for counties with a population from 45,500-74,999;
• $18,800 for counties with a population of at least 75,000;

Up to $21,700 per grant to the Wisconsin American Indian tribes or bands satisfying the requirements of Wisconsin Statutes Section 45.82(4), with grant award determined by the number of eligible applicants requesting the grant.

WDVA proposed a number of updates to the administrative rules governing the County and American Indian Veterans Service Grants hoping to remove burdensome requirements not included in Chapter 45 of the Wisconsin Statutes.  Unfortunately, we were not able to complete that process prior to the legislature adjourning their regularly scheduled session.  The time spent on that effort should make the process smoother and quicker when we try again once the legislature reconvenes in January of 2027.

For questions regarding the grant program, please call 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387) and ask to speak with the Grants section or submit an email to VetsBenefitsGrants@dva.wisconsin.gov.