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Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program 

The Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program (WETAP) represents an effort to connect low-income workers with jobs through enhanced local transportation services. This transportation program integrates state and federal funding sources into one application. The goal of this program is for local areas to work together in a collaborative process to assess the transportation needs for low-income workers and develop options for addressing those needs. For purposes of WETAP funding, low-income is defined as family income that is less than 200% Federal Poverty Level.

Lack of transportation is a significant barrier to getting and keeping jobs for low-income workers. Improving transportation services can improve the economic outcomes among these workers.

The WETAP program encourages long-term solutions by providing the funding for demonstration grants to cover the expenses of the early start-up and development stages of an effective transportation solution. 

These funds do not replace other funds that are being used for transportation.

The WETAP application for CY 2009 funds will be available for download in the summer of 2008

• 2008 WETAP grant recipients
• MPO/RPC contact information
• DVR WDA Directors
• Federal Certifications and Assurances

Goals:

• Coordination of federal, state and local employment transportation resources.
• Help low-income people:
  • Obtain employment
  • Retain employment
  • Advance in employment
  • Help employers access workers

Coordination and Partnerships:

• Coordination among transportation providers, planners, and the workforce development community is key.
• Multi-county applications are encouraged demonstrating a coordinated, regional effort.
• Existing programs will identify continued partnerships, program needs and gap analysis, success of current program and progress toward self-sufficiency.
• New projects need identify the partnerships, coordination, needs and gap analysis, and projections for self-sufficiency.
• In all instances a detailed budget with funding match will be submitted.
• Proposed grant recipients will need to complete applicable Federal Transit Administration (FTA) certifications.

Process:

• WETAP will again be funded through a combination of state and federal funding sources.
• There is a match (minimum 25%) requirement that is detailed in the application materials.
• Request for Proposals (RFP) will be out by September.
• Applications are due mid October (required signoffs by Regional Planning Commission/Metropolitan Planning Organization (RPC/MPO) and the local Workforce Development Board (WDB).
• The review team will score applications, late October.
• DOT/DWD Interagency will make final decisions and announce grant awards mid November.

Contacts:

Sharon Berge
sharon.berge@dwd.state.wi.us
phone: (608) 266-5138
fax: (608) 260-2582

John Alley
john.alley@dot.state.wi.us
phone: (608) 266-0189
fax: (608) 266-0658

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Questions about the content of this page:
John Alley, john.alley@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: April 9, 2008