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:
Cash incentive Award Program: This award shall be used in accordance with VPL 01-22 and Title 38 U.S.C.§ 4112 or the most recent guidance from USDOL-VETS. The objective of the JVSG cash incentive award program, known as the Veterans Service Performance Incentive Award Program, is to recognize, promote and reward exceptional performance in the provision of service to veterans within the context of statutes and regulations. The award program will create an awareness and continuous level of interest in the importance of providing intentional, high-quality outreach and services for veterans and promote an environment that engenders continuous improvement in the way staff support veterans across the spectrum of service. The award system shall continue to operate as defined in the applicable State Plan and as approved by USDOL. The state anticipates that individuals and teams will recognize the value and process of the awards program and will, as a result, develop a competitive attitude within the agency that supports esprit de corps within the team while sharpening the focus on service to other eligible persons. Incentive awards shall be expended up to and including 1 percent of the total grant amount for the fiscal year, which is set aside strictly, by the fiscal department of IDOL, for this purpose in the annual grant budget. Awards shall be determined based on a percentage of total award available for that fiscal year but shall not (in total) exceed 1 percent of the total available funds for a given fiscal year or the most current USDOL guidance on grant-funded incentive award amounts.
Idaho elects to use one percent of the Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) allocation to provide cash performance awards for eligible employees in local one-stop offices. The IDOL has a team centric vision that allows for all members to strive for excellence in all aspects up to and including serving our nations veterans. This is the reasoning behind awarding the cash incentive awards to the top three highest performing one-stop offices, the team performs together, and the team is awarded together. The awards program is intended to encourage and incentivize the improvement and modernization of employment, training, and placement services for veterans, and recognize eligible employees and offices for excellence in the provision of such services, or for having made demonstrable improvements in the provision of services to veterans.
Award Amounts:
The state shall request 1 percent of its annual allocation for each year’s JVSG grant as performance incentive awards for eligible one-stop Offices that will be paid in cash.
Local One-Stop Office Award Amounts:
- 1st Place Local Office Winner (approximately 1/3 of the annual allocation)
- 2nd Place Local Office Winner (approximately 1/3 of the annual allocation)
- 3rd Place Local Office Winner (approximately 1/3 of the annual allocation)
Eligibility Criteria: Veterans Service Performance Awards will be granted to IDOL’s local one-stop offices to recognize exceptional service to veterans or for specific activities or initiatives that promote successful employment of veterans. Nominations must detail the activities that meet this aim and may also include descriptions of how the Office achieved one or more of the following:
- System improvements that result in improved services to veterans and other eligible individuals under JVSG,
- Outstanding case management on behalf of a JVSG participants,
- Exceptional effort expended to assist a homeless veteran, formerly incarcerated veteran, or other hard to place JVSG participant,
- Activities led to improve performance, reduce time or cost, or promote collaboration around service to veterans,
- Outstanding outreach or placement efforts on behalf of veterans and JVSG participants,
- Extraordinary community relations efforts to increase the awareness of veterans’ issues, or
- Development of a program, for which the impact may not be directly measurable, (i.e. resume skills building program), targeted to support veterans.
Selection and Award Process: The solicitation for nominations shall be published in the monthly newsletter each March. The application must be completed, signed, and scanned to the State Veterans Coordinator by April 1 of each grant year. Each nomination will be screened to ensure the recipient is eligible to receive the award under state and department merit award policies. The State Veterans Coordinator will convene an award review committee of not less than 5 members of the Agency to include One area Manager, Two Office Managers, One Central Office employee and One ES staff member to review nominations and make award recommendations to the Administrator. Nominations will be scored based on information provided in response to the seven questions on the nomination form and may use a scoring rubric established by the State Veterans Services Coordinator. Recommendations after being reviewed by the Administrator will be forwarded to the Director by April 17 of each grant year. The Director will consider the recommendations and approve final awardees.
Winners will be announced in May of each grant year and all awards will be distributed by July of each year.
IDOL will provide an annual incentive award report as per IAW VPL 07-19, or the most updated policy guidance on this subject.
References & Resources:
VPL 01-22, VPL 01-22 Attachment 5, Public Law 109-461 Title VI Sec. 603, 38 U.S.C. § 4112