July 2, 2025

To: Counties, Municipalities, Tribes

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR), State and Local Finance Division is happy to inform you that the Innovation Grant Application (Form SL-405) will be available soon – launching mid-July 2025. We expect the application to be available through March 31, 2026.

The Innovation Grant Programs (Innovation Planning Grant and Innovation Grant) were created under 2023 Wisconsin Act 12. After the success of the planning grant, we are looking forward to working with you on the Innovation Grant, which will have a total of $300 million in available funds.

What is the Innovation Grant?

It's a program designed to encourage counties, municipalities, and tribes (transferor) to implement an innovation plan that transfers one or more allowable services/duties to another county, municipality, tribe, nonprofit organization, or private entity (transferee) while also achieving cost savings.

Available Resources

Now is a great time to look at our available resources – visit our Innovation Grants web page for current information and resources, including:

• General resources – common questions, factsheet, project examples, videos
• Fair market compensation information – how to determine, examples, median hourly wages by county
• And more…

Getting Ready

It's important to finalize your innovation plans:

• Complete your research and feasibility studies (if needed)
• Compile the contracts/agreements to transfer services ensuring all the required information is included (sec. 79.038(1), Wis. Stats.)

DOR will continue to send out communications in preparation of the Innovation Grant launch in the coming weeks.

Questions?