Missouri Veterans and Job Opportunity Grant Program

Missouri Veterans and Job Opportunity Grant

Supports Missouri employers hiring veterans and targeted jobseekers with workforce development grants.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The Missouri Veterans and Job Opportunity Grant Program provides grants to Missouri employers who hire veterans and other targeted job-seeker groups, administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED). The program is designed to incentivize Missouri businesses to prioritize hiring from populations that face particular barriers to workforce re-entry or first-time employment, with veterans being the primary targeted group. By offsetting a portion of the employer's wage or training costs, the program aims to reduce the hiring friction that can discourage employers from considering candidates who may require additional onboarding or skills adjustment.

Eligibility is generally structured around Missouri-based employers who make qualifying hires from the designated target populations, which include veterans as the program's primary focus. The grant functions as an employer-side incentive rather than a direct benefit to the job seeker, meaning the business receives the award in recognition of the hiring decision rather than the individual employee. The program sits within DED's workforce development portfolio alongside Missouri One Start, which provides customized recruitment and training services, and other employer-focused workforce incentives.

The program operates on a rolling basis without fixed annual competition windows, and award amounts, detailed eligibility criteria, and application procedures are managed by DED and may be adjusted depending on state appropriations and program demand. Missouri employers interested in the Veterans and Job Opportunity Grant should contact DED at ecodev@ded.mo.gov or through the DED programs portal for current guidance on qualifying hire categories, documentation requirements, and the application process.