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 awards.
2. Address the objectives to be achieved through the states incentive award.
Because all Job Center staff are eligible, the incentive award program will encourage excellence and partnership in the delivery of service to veterans.
The incentive fund will be utilized to provide recognition of DVOP, LVER, Wagner Peyser, WIOA and any other Job Center staff or groups of staff who demonstrate excellence in the provision of services to veterans.
3. Describe the planned selection and award process and,
The guidelines of VPL 04-19 will be followed in the selection of awardees. The selection criteria will include:
- Development of a program, for which the impact may not be directly measurable (e.g., a resume skills building program)
- Establishment of local veteran initiatives (e.g. local Veterans Court, Stand-downs)
- Exemplary Job Fair
- Collaboration with Vocational Rehabilitation or other partners to serve veterans
- 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
- Outreach/community-relations efforts, e.g. Chambers of Commerce, employers, etc. Generation of positive publicity for a local office; increasing 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 (homeless veterans, etc.)
Awardees will be selected based upon objective and subjective performance data. Any nominee who has had any reprimand within the last 12 months is not eligible for the award. Nominations will be called for with a June deadline and will be based upon performance during the past program year.
A panel will make the selection of awardees. The panel will consist of individuals selected by the Director of Office of Workforce Development. The panel will select five winners from the slate of nominees. The panel will review anonymous nominations, only the Veteran Program Manager will know the identity of the nominations. The deadline for selection will be no later than June 30. There will be no numeric limitations on the number of nominees selected for the awards. All winning nominations will be numerically ranked.
The Director of the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development will review and approve the selected nominees before the presentation of awards.
All LVER, DVOP, CODL, Wagner-Peyser, WIOA and any other Job Center staff providing services to veterans will be eligible for incentive awards. Additionally, groups of staff who collaborate to provide service to veterans will be eligible. In instances where groups of individuals are selected as awardees, both the group and individual will be recognized.
4. Describe the planned disbursement of incentive award funds.
Awards will be presented in three stages.
- The five winners will be recognized and presented with an appropriate token during a statewide veterans’ staff conference. Incentive funds will not be utilized for conference expenses.
- The top five winning nominations will attend a conference or conferences selected by the Director of Office of Workforce Development. The state annual JVSG conference cannot be selected as one of the conferences. LVER funds will be utilized for the Veterans Coordinators expenses for the trip.
- Missouri will utilize any excess incentive funds to recognize outstanding services by JVSG staff by purchasing items and articles of recognitions as determined by the Director of Office of Workforce Development.
- Funds not expended on the trip will be recaptured by USDOL VETS.
The Missouri Division of Workforce Development will be the entity administering incentive funds. Normal, approved travel expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with standard policies. All funds must be liquidated by December 31.