WisTRAIN — Wisconsin Training for Resilient Advanced Industry Needs
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD)
Up to $330,000
Researched for this program: 4 rejection traps · 4 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
WI advanced-manufacturing training grant
WisTRAIN is a new (2026) employer grant program from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development that funds employer-driven occupational skills training in advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence. It was created with a $7.3 million competitive federal award and is designed to help Wisconsin manufacturers and advanced-industry employers upskill workers in technologies such as data analytics, cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and robotics. Grants of up to $330,000 per grantee or consortium reimburse the cost of delivering this training. Applications opened in 2026 with an initial-round deadline of July 13, 2026, and rolling review thereafter while funds remain.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- Up to $330,000
- Realistic amount
- Most employers will receive far less than the $330,000 ceiling — that maximum is geared to large consortium projects. A single mid-sized manufacturer training a cohort of workers is more likely to land in the tens of thousands to low-six-figure range, scaled to the number of trainees and the cost of the training delivered.
- Deadline
- Initial round: applications due 11:59 p.m. July 13, 2026; rolling review afterward while funds remain
- Status
- active
- States
- Wisconsin
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Employer operating in Wisconsin
- Engaged in advanced manufacturing and/or AI applications (e.g. data analytics, cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, robotics)
- Open to employers of any size
- May apply as a single employer or as a consortium
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Occupational skills training in advanced manufacturing and AI
- Training provider/instructor costs
- Training in data analytics, cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and robotics
- Related employer-driven workforce training delivery costs
Ineligible expenses
- Capital equipment purchases unrelated to training
- General operating costs
- Training outside the advanced-manufacturing / AI scope
How to apply
-
1
Confirm eligibility and define the training need
Verify your Wisconsin operations qualify as advanced manufacturing / AI and identify the specific occupational skills training and worker cohort you intend to fund.
~4 hrs
-
2
Engage DWD and review program guidelines
Review the WisTRAIN program materials on the DWD site, confirm eligible training and reimbursement terms, and contact DWD program staff with questions before applying.
~4 hrs
-
3
Prepare and submit the application
Complete the WisTRAIN application describing the training plan, trainees, providers, budget, and outcomes. Submit by 11:59 p.m. July 13, 2026 for the initial funding round.
~12 hrs
-
4
Award, training delivery, and reporting
If awarded, execute the grant agreement, deliver the training, and report on completion and outcomes to draw funds.
~8 hrs
Because the first round closes July 13, 2026 and remaining funds are then awarded on a rolling first-come basis, applying in the initial round (or early in the rolling phase) materially improves your odds before the $7.3M pool is committed. Bundling a clear, AI-or-robotics-specific training plan reads better against the program's stated priorities than generic upskilling.
Deadline & timing
After the July 13, 2026 initial-round deadline, if funds are available, applications may be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until all funds are awarded. Program announced February 2026; applications opened in 2026.
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