Located in:
- Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants
The Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants (JVSG) are mandatory, formula-based staffing grants to (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 (VETS-200 Series Reports) quarterly (using four “rolling quarters”) on a Program Year basis (as with the ETA- 9002 Series). Currently, VETS JVSG operates on a five-year (FY 2015-2019), 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:
The JVSG 5 Year State Plan states:
The program provides an employee award and recognition system authorized by Colorado Veterans Employment and Training Program in accordance with 38 U.S.C. Chapter 41 and 42, as amended, and by direction of Veterans Program Letter (VPL) 02-07. The program is designed to recognize an employee’s contribution to the objectives of VPL 02-07 through excellence in performance and service to veterans. The program will be funded by 1% of the JVSG grant.
Eligible recipients of State Employee Performance Incentive Awards are as follows: Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialists (DVOPs), Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) staff, and any other employee who provides services to veterans through employment service delivery programs. Recipients of Performance Incentive Awards can be individuals or a team as long as all those on the team meet the criteria. Ineligible recipients include agencies and federal staff. Although agencies are not eligible recipients, individuals within an office or work unit are not restricted from being awarded where performance warrants recognition under the State’s incentive awards program.
A team consisting of members from Colorado Veterans Employment and Training Programs, CDLE and American Job Center System representatives will meet on a quarterly basis to select distinguished accomplishment awardees. The intent is to present the accomplishment awards during the last quarter of the fiscal year. All distinguished accomplishment awards and spot awards will be obligated no later than the end of the last fourth quarter of the fiscal year and will be fully expended by the end of the first quarter of the following fiscal year. A report of the obligated funds will be provided with the fourth quarter report and a report of the expended funds will be provided with the first quarter of the following fiscal year. These awards recognize eligible employees for excellence in the provision of services or for making demonstrable improvements in the provision of services to veterans through the American Job Center System.
With the announcement of the Incentive Award Program, CDLE expects an increase in performance and activity outcomes. The selection criteria for award recipients will be based on a notable increase in performance or activity outcomes using both objective and subjective data such as attitude, motivation, program improvement, positive feedback, and other competency indicators of outstanding performance and outreach in the areas of entered employment rates, Priority of Service in referrals and/or triaging processes, or best practices, to name a few, that directly impact the services offered to veterans who have barriers to employment during the program year for which the award is given.
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment administers the funds for the Distinguished Accomplishment Awards Program and the Spot Awards. Recipients will be recognized with a non- monetary Spot Award ranging from $50 to $75. Recipients of the Spot Awards will be recognized with non-monetary awards, such as, but not limited to tickets to sports and entertainment events, or gift cards and others as outlined in VPL. For Distinguished Accomplishment Awards, the monetary amounts range from $250 to $1,000 for individual and group distinguished accomplishments and $1,000 to $3,000 for groups and organizations. The amount or type of the Spot or Distinguished Accomplishment award will be determined by the team as indicated above.
All awards will be based on performance or activities that occurred during the program year for which the award is given. In accordance with VPL 02-07, incentive award funds will be obligated by September 30 and expended by December 31 of each FY.