THE LIFE YOU’VE EARNED: VETERANS AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN

Looking for the best place to live and work after your military service ends? Central Wisconsin is waiting for you. Here, our top-ranked school systems, university and technical college network and our quality of life offer the benefits veterans have earned. Ample outdoor recreation and caring communities provide connection and retreat, and a growing network of corporate headquarters and in-demand career opportunities provide job growth and satisfaction.

Here, housing is diverse and affordable, and commute times are well below the national average. Transitioning from a military career brings important choices and questions and Wisconsin has more state-funded programs for veterans than any other state. Choosing central Wisconsin means choosing balance and having a career path and quality of life.

COMPARE HOW WISCONSIN STACKS UP TO OTHER STATES

Wisconsin offers more of the nationally recognized programs for veterans than any state in the nation. Wisconsin also offers more state funded programs for vets than any other state.

Benefits & Programs WI MN IL OH PA ID ME DE ND OR NM AR CA LA MA MD TX WA NH MS WV IN MO AL CT MI SD AZ NC NJ AK NY CO KY MT TN KS VT VA SC UT WY HI FL NV OK IA RI NE GA DC
Skilled Nursing Facilities 6 5 3 2 5 8 7 1 6 1 1 2 2 5 2 1 8 4 2 4 1 1 7 4 4 6 1 2 2 2 1 4 4 2 3 3 4 1 1 3 4 1 1 1 1 7 1 1 2 2 1
Assisted Living Facilities 1 1
State Veteran’s Cemeteries 3 2 1 1 2 3 1 1 2 4 2 5 4 3 1 2 2 6 2 1 4 2 3 4 2 3 4 2 4 1 1 1 3 1 8 2 1 1 4 2
State Veteran’s Museums
Property Tax Credit/Exemption
Home Loans
Free/Reduced Education for Veterans
Free/Reduced Education for Veteran’s Family
Personal Financial Grants Assistance
Non-Profit Grants
Employment Grant for Businesses
Personal Loans
Free/Reduced Hunting License
Free/Reduced Fishing License
Free/Reduced State Park Passes
Professional/Occupational License Fee Waiver
SAA under SDVA
State Homeless Program
Veteran’s Preference for State Employment
State Tax Exempt for Military Retirement Pay
State Paid War Bonus
Veteran License Plates
Veteran Status on Driver’s License or I.D.
Veteran’s Court
Veteran’s Licensing
Transportation for Veterans
Total # of State Benefits 23 21 20 20 19 19 19 18 18 18 18 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 14 14 14 14 14 13 13 13 13 13 12 12 5

FIND A CAREER IN THE CENTER

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A WEALTH OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Wisconsin has always placed a high value on education. Whether you’re looking to continue your own education or to ensure your children start with a solid foundation, you’ll have access to affordable and exceptional educational opportunities here in Central Wisconsin.

Wisconsin’s technical colleges and four-year universities are among the best in the nation. Several of them can be found right here in Central Wisconsin, including the proudly military-friendly University of Wisconsin – Steven’s Point. What’s more, Wisconsin also offers generous tuition benefits for both veterans and their families.

Our excellent K-12 schools are ready to prepare your kids for higher education or for skilled trades. With their impressive graduation rates, you can be sure your children will be just as ready to take on the world as you are.

WHERE YOUR FAMILY CAN THRIVE

Central Wisconsin’s unique and welcoming communities make our region an ideal place not only to raise children, but to live as a family. Low commute times mean you’ll have more time to spend together. And thanks to our low cost of living, you’ll be able to do more of the things you enjoy.

With both high-quality schools and excellent health care, Central Wisconsin offers what your children need to grow up healthy, happy and well-educated. Our communities embrace family life through community programs, seasonal festivals and more. Our beautiful wilderness and natural areas are a highlight of the region. With plenty of outdoor recreation options, your family will have plenty of opportunities to explore and make unforgettable memories together.

FIND A HOUSE, AND A HOME

Wherever you look in Central Wisconsin, you’ll find above-average places to live with below-average housing costs. Whether you want to rent of buy, and whether you want the energy of downtown living, suburban comfort or a peaceful rural homestead, you can find it all here. The Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs offers veterans a state property tax credit and support in finding a home. So you’ll never feel like you are going it alone.

FIND A HOME

YOU’RE WELCOME HERE

Here in Central Wisconsin, you’ll find solid ground to build a successful future beyond the military. Our communities, private service organizations and local veteran peer groups are ready to welcome you. Our employers are enthusiastic about hiring veterans, and there is strong support for veteran-owned businesses. Wisconsin’s highly regarded Department of Veteran Affairs has a Veterans Service Officer in each county to help make sure you have access to all the benefits you are eligible for.

A PLACE WHERE YOU’RE VALUED

If you ask someone what it means to live in Wisconsin—especially here in its heart—what you hear will most likely sound familiar. We focus on what matters and do whatever it takes to get what we need to do done. We believe that hard work deserves to be rewarded. We stay true to who we are, and true to our friends and neighbors, whether we’re known them our whole lives or they’ve just moved to town.

Central Wisconsin is a place where you and your family can live well and find countless opportunities for professional and personal growth.

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