Talent recruitment grants
Wis. Stat. § 238.14
in effect(1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Household” means a group of one or more individuals who dwell together within the same dwelling.
(b) “Household goal” means the total number of households that a talent recruitment program under this section seeks to successfully incentivize to relocate or commit to relocate from outside this state to a municipality in this state.
(2) Establishment of grant program. The corporation shall establish and administer the economic development program under this section for the purpose of awarding grants for talent recruitment programs to incentivize households to relocate from outside this state to a municipality in this state.
(3) Grants.
(a) The corporation shall award grants to eligible applicants under sub. (4) for the purpose of the administration of talent recruitment programs and the costs associated with incentivizing households to relocate from outside this state to municipalities in this state.
(b) No more than $500,000 in grant moneys may be awarded to support talent recruitment programming in a single municipality in a single fiscal year.
(c) The corporation shall disburse 50 percent of the total grant award upon entering into a grant contract and 50 percent of the total grant award upon the recipient reporting to the corporation that it has successfully met half of the household goal stated in the talent recruitment program plan under sub. (4) (b). If the recipient fails to meet half of its stated household goal, the corporation shall not disburse the remaining grant amount.
(4) Applicant eligibility. An applicant is eligible to receive a grant if the applicant meets all of the following criteria:
(a) The applicant is any of the following:
1. A city, village, town, county, or American Indian tribe or band in this state.
2. A nonprofit organization, the mission of which includes economic development, workforce and talent development, or community development.
(b) The applicant provides the corporation with a talent recruitment program plan that includes all of the following details:
1. The total estimated cost of the program and the individual estimated costs associated with the program’s design, administration, marketing, and relocation incentive initiatives.
2. The program’s household goal and the estimated total grant amount per household.
3. The program’s estimated state and local tax impact.
4. The program’s estimated total economic impact.
(c) The applicant demonstrates its ability to contribute at least 20 percent of the total talent recruitment program cost. The applicant’s contribution may include local investments and in-kind donations.
(d) If the applicant is a previous recipient of grant under this section, the applicant has met the household goal stated in the talent recruitment program plan under par. (b) for the previous grant.
(5) Household eligibility. A household is eligible for talent recruitment program incentives under this section if the household meets all of the following criteria:
(a) The household resides outside of this state at the time the household applies for talent recruitment program incentives under this section.
(b) The household has an individual household income of at least $55,000.
(c) The household submits an application to the recipient of a grant under this section to receive talent recruitment program incentives.
(6) Reports. Each recipient of a grant under this section shall provide semiannual reports to the corporation with the following data regarding talent recruitment program outcomes:
(a) Total number of household applications.
(b) Total number of approved households.
(c) Cost per approved household.
(d) The annual incomes and occupations of approved households.
(e) The economic impact of the talent recruitment program, including state and local tax revenue and new consumer spending.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/238.14Fetched: 10/7/2026