DED opens public comment for Missouri Veterans and Job Opportunity Grant Program, accepting applications January 2026

The Department of Economic Development (DED) announced today that it has opened a public comment period for the Missouri Veterans and Job Opportunity Grant Program, which provides grants to eligible businesses employing veterans and other members of Targeted Groups from Missouri. Feedback will be accepted from November 10 to December 12, 2025, through a public comment survey.

"Missouri's veterans bring exceptional skills, leadership, and dedication to our workforce," said Michelle Hataway, Director of the Department of Economic Development. "The Missouri Veterans and Job Opportunity Grant Program is another way we're assisting companies in helping those who served our country. This program not only honors their service but also strengthens our communities and helps Missourians prosper."

The Missouri Veterans and Job Opportunity Grant Program disburses grants to eligible employers who employ Missourians from Targeted Groups, including qualified veterans, who have faced significant barriers to employment. Input from the public will inform the program's guidelines and is important to ensuring that it assists eligible employers as efficiently as possible.

Applicants must be employers registered to do business in Missouri that have paid wages to a Missouri individual who is certified by a designated local agency as being in a Targeted Group. Employers must have also claimed a federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for eligible hires on their most recently filed tax return.

Details on eligibility, funding limits, the application process, and other requirements are available on the Missouri Veterans and Job Opportunity Grant Program webpage. The program opens for applications on January 1, 2026.

About the Missouri Department of Economic Development

The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) works to create an environment that encourages economic growth by supporting Missouri's businesses and diverse industries, strengthening our communities, developing a talented and skilled workforce, and maintaining a high quality of life. As one team built around the customer and driven by data, DED aspires to be the best economic development department in the Midwest. Through its various initiatives, DED is helping create opportunities for Missourians to prosper.

For the latest updates on DED's current or future programs and initiatives, visit DED's website.