Narrative: d.

The expected outcomes for Minnesota’s incentive award program are: • To acknowledge superior performance and customer service for Veterans; • To elevate the visibility and importance of Veteran’s services to WorkForce partners and staff; • To generate a stronger sense of unity and collaboration between the Veteran’s program and the state WFC system.

ENCOURAGING EXCELLENT SERVICE TO VETERANS Offering awards provide encouragement and motivation to offer high quality services to Veterans, and offers flexible use of funds for recipients. Examples of selection criteria must show that winning nominations demonstrate a significant impact on Veterans and their job search. A wide range of exemplary employment and training services focused on Veterans will be considered.

TYPES OF AWARDS Total funds available for the Jobs for Veteran’s State Grant (JVSG) Performance Incentive Award Program are $26,000 based on one percent of the total grant monies designated for FFY15. Minnesota will recognize individual recipients, or WFC offices or teams based on the selection criteria outlined below.

EXAMPLES OF APPROPRIATE USE OF CASH AWARDS ARE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: • Computer equipment including network printers, laptops, scanners or other related equipment; • Office furniture and equipment; • Conference Room equipment such as whiteboards, LED projectors and screens; • Donations to U.S. Code recognized 501C(3) charities.

SELECTION CRITERIA Selection criteria for award recipients must be based on performance or activities during the fiscal year the award is given. Both objective and subjective data are to be considered in the selection of nominees. Nominees should be considered to have demonstrated outstanding outreach and/or service provision on behalf of Veterans who have significant barriers to employment, especially disabled Veterans, homeless Veterans, and incarcerated Veterans. Attitude, motivation, program improvement, positive feedback and other indicators of outstanding performance may be given consideration above numerical data. The Minnesota Dept. of Employment & Economic Development will convene an awards committee and administer the awards.

Examples of selection criteria may be: • Development of a program, for which the impact may not be directly measurable (e.g., a resume skills building program, special programming for targeted Veteran groups, workshops that address significant barriers to employment); • Outstanding cooperative case management (between DVOP & WFC partners); • Ideas that are implemented to improve the service delivery system leading to Veteran living–wage and sustainable employment, improvement in outcome performance for Veterans, reduced time or cost, or that promote collaboration that improve services to Veterans; • Outreach/community–relations efforts, to include employers, social service entities, and/or educators etc.; or • Exemplary efforts to assist SBE Veteran populations (homeless, undereducated or under skilled, low income, disabled veterans, or incarcerated Veterans etc.).

ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS Eligible recipients are defined as entities providing services to Veterans under the WIOA/Wagner–Peyser employment delivery system. The term "employment service delivery system" means a service delivery system at which or through which labor exchange services, including employment, training, and placement services, are offered in accordance with the Wagner–Peyser Act and employment delivery service programs as defined in P.L. 107–288, Section 4112 and P.L. 109–461. Examples of these entities include:

• Joint DEED/WIOA partners and WorkForce Centers • WFC partners such as Dislocated Worker Program • Community College Workforce Development staff

NOMINATION PROCESS AND TIMING OF AWARDS • Nominations will be solicited through Minnesota local workforce development boards (LWDBs) and local WFC Offices. • Nominations will reflect the accomplishments of the entity, and include sufficient detail to adequately describe to the awards committee the improvements in services to Veterans made by the entity. • Nomination descriptions should be no more than one page in length; however, supplemental performance data, testimonials, and other related information may be included as attachments. • Nominations must be received 2 weeks in advance of the Awards Committee meeting date each quarter. • Nominations will be reviewed by a panel consisting of the State Veteran’s Program Director, a representative of U.S. Department of Labor–Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (USDOL–VETS), a representative from DEED HR, and a WFC Partner. • No nomination committee member may be directly connected with any person or office being reviewed for these awards. • Awards will be announced to the recipient(s) prior to September 30th. • Award funds must be obligated by the end of the federal fiscal year, September 30. An annual Incentive Award report will be included in the quarterly report due in mid–November. The report will detail all incentive awards made. • The intent of P.L. 107–288 is to recognize individuals with an award of corporate benefit not to supplant other spending on training, supplies or other expenditures ordinarily made at the state or program level (see P.L.107–288 & 109–461). Due in part to union restrictions no individual awards will be presented.