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;
Current Narrative:
1. Indicate the total percentage of funds designated for performance incentive awards.
Missouri will designate 1% of the JVSG for performance incentive cash awards.
2. Address the objectives to be achieved through the states incentive award.
The incentive fund will be utilized to provide recognition of Job Centers who demonstrate excellence in the provision of services to veterans. All full-service Job Centers, which include staff funded by Wagner-Peyser, WIOA, and JVSG, who collaborate to provide service to veterans will be eligible for nomination for the incentive awards. The incentive awards will encourage the improvement and modernization of employment, training, and placement services for veterans.
3. Describe the planned selection and award process and,
The guidelines of VPL 1-22 will be followed in the selection of awardees. Job Centers will be nominated based on their efforts that demonstrate outstanding outreach on behalf of veterans who have barriers to employment, programs that promote employment opportunities for veterans within the local community, or enhance provider awareness of veterans’ issues and resources. The following list will be used as examples for submitting nominations:
- Development of a program for which the impact may not be directly measurable (e.g., a resume skill-building program)
- Promotion of entry into federal employment
- Promotion of HIRE Veterans Medallion Program
- Outstanding case management
- Exemplary job fair support
- Vocational rehabilitation marketing
- Direct marketing to employers
- Exceptional performance beyond job requirements or outside of established performance goals
- Ideas that are implemented to improve the system, improve performance, reduce time or cost, or to promote collaboration
- Performance measures for the current program year
- Outreach/community relations efforts, e.g., Chambers of Commerce, employers
- Generation of positive publicity for a local office
- Increase awareness of relevant issues within the employer community
- Enhancement of on-the-job training, customized job training, or compensated work therapy
- Efforts to assist hard-to-place populations (e.g., veterans experiencing homelessness, incarceration, disability, or recent separation from service)
- Collaborative success in providing all services to veterans, which may include success in
- employer relations and “great customer service” to veteran clients
- Other pre-defined achievements or measures
Awardees will be selected based upon objective and subjective performance data. Nominations will be called for with a June deadline and will be based upon performance during the current program year. There will be no numeric limitation on the number of nominees. The nominations will remain anonymous; only the Veteran Program Manager will know the identity of the nominations. A panel consisting of individuals selected by the Director of Office of Workforce Development will review and numerically rank all nominations. The top-ranked Job Center from each of the three OWD Zones will receive the cash award. The deadline for selection will be no later than June 30. The Director of the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, Office of Workforce Development will review and approve the selected nominees before the presentation of awards.
4. Describe the planned disbursement of incentive award funds.
Awards will be presented in three stages.
- The three winning Job Centers will be recognized and presented with a plaque during the statewide OWD Summit, which includes the annual veterans’ conference. Incentive funds will not be utilized for summit/conference expenses or the aforementioned plaque.
- The three (3) winning Job Centers will receive a cash award in the amount of $10,000 to be used in accordance with guidelines set by the Director of Office of Workforce Development.
- Funds not expended will be recaptured by USDOL VETS.
The Missouri Division of Workforce Development will be the entity administering incentive funds. All funds will be obligated by September 30 and liquidated by December 31.