Located in:
- Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants
The Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants (JVSG) are mandatory, formula-based staffing grants to (including DC, PR, VI and Guam). The JVSG is funded annually in accordance with a funding formula defined in the statute (38 U.S.C. 4102A (c) (2) (B) and regulation and operates on a fiscal year (not program year) basis, however, performance metrics are collected and reported (VETS-200 Series Reports) quarterly (using four “rolling quarters”) on a Program Year basis (as with the ETA- 9002 Series). Currently, VETS JVSG operates on a five-year (FY 2015-2019), multi-year grant approval cycle modified and funded annually.
In accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 4102A(b)(5) and § 4102A(c), the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training (ASVET) makes grant funds available for use in each State to support Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists and Local Veterans' Employment Representatives (LVER) staff. As a condition to receive funding, 38 U.S.C. § 4102A(c)(2) requires States to submit an application for a grant that contains a State Plan narrative, which includes:
d. The Incentive Award Program Implemented Using the 1% Grant Allocation Set Aside for This Purpose, as Applicable;
Current Narrative:
The JVSG 5 Year State Plan states
The program provides an award and recognition system authorized by Colorado Veterans Employment and Training Program in accordance with 38 U.S.C. Chapter 41 and 42 and by direction of Veterans Program Letter (VPL) 02-07. The program is designed to recognize contributions to the objectives of VPL 02-07 through excellence in performance and service to veterans. The program will be funded by 1% of the JVSG grant.
Eligible recipients of Incentive Awards are as follows: Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialists (DVOPs), Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) staff, employment service offices operating under WIOA and WIOA partner programs, and any employee of an office that provides services to veterans through employment service delivery programs, including employees who indirectly contribute to improving services to veterans such (i.e. business services, MIS, admin, support staff, etc.). Recipients of Performance Incentive Awards can be individuals, a team, or an office that meets the eligibility criteria. Ineligible recipients include volunteers, VA work studies and federal employees.
These awards recognize eligible recipients for excellence in the provision of services or for making demonstrable improvements in the provision of services to veterans through the American Job Center System. The selection criteria for award recipients will be based on performance or activities that impact the services offered to veterans during the program year for which the award is given using both objective and subjective information. Examples of such information may include but is not limited to; attitude, motivation, program improvement, positive feedback and other competency indicators of performance and outreach in the areas of entered employment rates, Priority of Service in referrals of triage processes, or best practices.
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment administers the funds for the Incentive Awards Program. Recipients will be recognized with Distinguished or Spot Awards that may be monetary or non-monetary. Spot Awards will be valued at or less than $250 per award. Distinguished Awards will be valued at or greater than $100 and no more than $3000 per award and may be presented to individuals, groups or offices. Non-monetary awards will consist of awards, such as but not limited to, tickets to sports and entertainment events, gift cards, conference fees, ceremonies, luncheons, travel, and others awards as allowable in VPL 02-07. The type, amount, manner of distribution and specifics for Spot or Distinguished Awards will be determined by an incentive awards committee. The committee members will be determined by CDLE leadership and may consist of any combination of representation from the Colorado Veterans Employment Program, CDLE, American Job Center System, and/or WIOA partner programs.
All awards will be based on performance or activities that occurred during the program year for which the award is given. The intent is to present the awards before or during the last quarter of the fiscal year. In accordance with VPL 02-07, incentive award funds will be obligated by September 30 each FY and expended by the following December 31. A report of the obligated funds will be provided with the fourth quarter report and a report of the expended funds will be provided with the first quarter of the following fiscal year.