Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program (WETAP)

Bridging the Gap in Employment Transportation

2008 WETAP Grant Recipients (PDF file, three pages, DOT website.)

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Program Overview

The Wisconsin Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Workforce Development (DWD) are pleased to announce the beginning of the Application process for the 2008 (January 1 to December 31) Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program (WETAP).

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.

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 DOT District office 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.

If you have questions regarding the WETAP application, or application cycle, please contact Sharon Berge, DWD WETAP Program Manager at telephone number 608/266-5138 or at sharon.berge@dwd.state.wi.us  or Andrea Loeffelholz WisDOT WETAP Program Manager 608/264-8426 or andrea.loeffelholz@dot.state.wi.us