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2 Year Modification

Plan: Arkansas PYs 2022-2023 (Mod)
Combined Plan C

Section: Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program

Narrative: d.

Published
Located in:
  • Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants

    (OMB Control Number: 1225-0086)

    The Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants (JVSG) are mandatory, formula-based staffing grants to States (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 quarterly on a Program Year basis (as with the ETA-9002 Series). Currently, VETS JVSG operates on a 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;

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2020-2023

Current Narrative:

Arkansas Division of Workforce Services

Jobs for Veterans State Grant

Incentive Award Plan

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 4112 and VPL 01-22, Attachment #5, the Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) includes a 1% “set aside” of the total grant amount for use as incentive awards. The individual will be scored based on performance or activities during the program year (July 1 through June 30), for which the award is given. These funds will be obligated by September 30th of each year and expended by December 31st of each year and will be awarded as Monetary Awards to fifteen (15) staff members who display exceptional service to veterans and eligible persons.

 Award winners will be announced during JVSG Annual Training Conference held during the 4th Quarter of each year.  Any part of the 1% of these funds that is not obligated by the 4th Quarter will remain unobligated at the grant closeout.

Overview

The overall goal in utilizing the Incentive Awards is to motivate JVSG and Non-JVSG staff on their focus of improving the (JVSG Program) and overall Employment Services to all veterans and eligible spouses within the state and local workforce investment areas. This includes, but not limited to, increasing DVOP caseloads or activities; plans to overcome SBEs the veteran may have; increase employment opportunities and commitment from employers to hire and retain veterans; and assist employers with job development activities.

For Non-JVSG staff, they must demonstrate exceptional customer service relating to the quality of veteran services received, be knowledgeable and comply with JVSG processes or increase the overall productivity and advocating for veterans and other eligible persons, as shown through success stories. The State Veteran Coordinator (SVC) will continue to encourage participation through promoting the Incentive Awards program during all state conferences and meetings.

Award Plan Selection

The Incentive Award program will be utilized for DVOPs, LVERs, Consolidated DVOP/LVER, Employment Service staff, and WIOA staff members that provide employment, training, and placement services to veterans and eligible spouses. The nominees must provide exemplary employment services to veterans and eligible spouses or affect improvements of veterans’ service delivery system. All information will be collected from the Tableau Reporting System using the DVOP Intensive Service Report, Veteran Last Service Date, Staff Assisted Service Counts, Job Service Activity Reports, referrals and placements, and the Employer Contact Tracking Report.

The award recognizes staff that have made a substantial contribution or effort to:

  1. Improve and modernize employment and placement services, as well as training opportunities for Veterans and other eligible persons. (e.g., Virtual Platforms, social media).
  2. Outstanding Case Management process.
  3. Providing the provision of “Priority of Service” and integration of services to Veterans and other eligible persons at Arkansas Workforce Centers.
  4. Improve outcomes for Veterans and other eligible persons. (e.g., vocational rehabilitation & Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs (HVRP), Arkansas Department of Veteran Affairs (ADVA)
  5. Establish strong working partnerships with other Veteran organizations and/or the local community at large to improve services to Significant Barriers to Employment (SBE) Veterans and other eligible persons.
    1. Community Outreach- VSO, DAV, VFW, American Legions etc.
    2. Direct Employer marketing
    3. Other State Agencies
    4. Area Chambers of Commerce
  6. Develop innovative approaches and best practices, that demonstrate the excellence in provision of quality employment and training services to Veterans and other eligible persons.
    1. WIOA Partners
    2. Office of Apprenticeship
    3. Office of Skills Development
  7. Promote and encourage the hiring of Veterans through the Hire Veterans Medallion Program (HVMP).

Disbursement of Monetary Award Amounts

The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services will award Monetary Award Amounts (5 for each category) for a total of fifteen (15) total recipients, based on the amount of the grant which could fluctuate and is distributed through The Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration. The state’s payroll system in each category (DVOP, DV/LV-CP, LVER, Job Service, WIOA) are:

First Place:                  $1,256.00

Second Place:             $969.00

Third Place:                $791.00

Award Planning Disbursement Processing

  1. The SVC will submit annual incentive award reports detailing all individual award recipients by close of business June 30, of each calendar year to Senior Management, Budget Office, and Payroll to include:
  • All individual recipients by name, by office, location, type of office (e.g., Comprehensive or Satellite).
  • The cash amount of each award that funded by the incentive award allocation, and a description and value of each non-financial award that is funded by the base allocation, if applicable.
  1. Next, the recommendation letter signed by Agency Director will be submitted to ADWS Human Resources for submission to the Department of Commerce for submission to Department of Finance & Administration (DF&A) for employment verification.

Note: Monitor this process with HR to ensure Awards are being processed for payment in the JVSG 4th Quarter.

  1. Once awards are verified by the Department of Finance & Administration (DF&A) - ADWS will be notified with an official Letter of Award and Payroll will notify the SVC & Budget of the official payment date.