(1) AWARDING OF GRANTS.
(a) From the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1) (cg), the department shall, subject to par. (am), award technical education equipment grants under this section. The department shall award grants in the amount of not more than $100,000 to applicants whose grant applications are approved under sub.
(2) (b).
(am) The department shall award grant moneys under par.
(a) so that not less than one-third of grant moneys awarded in a fiscal biennium are provided to applicants that are either school districts that are eligible for sparsity aid under s. 115.436 or consortia that include at least one school district that is so eligible.
(b) An applicant that is awarded a grant under this section may use grant moneys awarded for any of the following: 1. The construction, renovation, or improvement of school district facilities for the purpose of training students in construction-related and advanced manufacturing fields. 2. The acquisition of tools and equipment that are used in construction-related and advanced manufacturing fields. 3. The acquisition of software, related materials, and instructional training necessary for instructors and pupils to operate tools and equipment that are used in construction-related and advanced manufacturing fields.
(c) As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, matching funds shall be provided, which may be in the form of money or the monetary value of software, tools, equipment, or other in-kind contributions. The matching funds must be equal to or greater than any grant moneys received.
(2) GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS.
(a) A school district or a consortium consisting of multiple school districts that wishes to receive a grant under this section shall apply for the grant in accordance with procedures and requirements established by the department under rules promulgated under sub.
(4)
(b) 1. A grant application shall describe the purpose and need for the grant, the projected outcomes sought to be achieved as a result of receiving the grant, the amount and source of the matching funds required under sub.
(1) (c), and any other information that the department may require under rules promulgated under sub.
(4)
(b) 1.
(b) The department shall review and evaluate a grant application submitted under par.
(a) in accordance with procedures and criteria established by the department under rules promulgated under sub.
(4)
(b) 2. After completing that review and evaluation, the department shall notify the applicant of the department’s decision on the grant application.
(3) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. A recipient of a grant under this section shall file a report with the department by September 1 of each of the first 3 fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the grant was received. The report shall describe how the grant moneys were expended, describe the outcomes achieved as a result of receiving the grant, share the best practices employed regarding the training of pupils in the use of any equipment acquired with the grant moneys, include a plan for sustainability of any such training, and provide such other information as the department may require under rules promulgated under sub.
(4)
(b) 3.
(4) IMPLEMENTATION OF GRANT PROGRAM.
(b) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section. Those rules shall include all of the following: 1. Rules establishing the procedures and requirements for applying for a grant under sub.
(2) (a), including the information that must be submitted with a grant application. 2. Rules establishing the procedures and criteria for awarding a grant under sub.
(2) (b). 3. Rules governing the reporting requirements under sub. (3), 10106.275 APPRENTICE AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS including the information that must be provided in a report submitted under sub. (3).