Regan N. Hertzler – V3 Deputy Program
Manager and Grant Manager, DVS
2
PURPOSE OF TODAY’S CALL
•
To ensure DVS is effectively informing V3 companies
about the grant criteria and application during
implementation in FY 2016
•
Ensure efficient and effective administration and award of
V3 Grants
•
Service to our customers is our highest priority, and your
perspective is invaluable to keeping the program
•
About 800,000 veterans; more per capita than any other state
•
Fastest growing veteran population over past 5 years.
•
Highest Veteran labor force participation rate
•
More Veterans added in Virginia’s labor force than all other
states combined (net 80,000 Veterans added)
•
Highest percentage of veterans in working age population
•
Highest full-time employment rate among Veterans
•
BUT: Thousands of Veterans transitioning from Virginia military
installations or into Virginia every month.
•
We want to employ them in Virginia!
•
Incentivize companies to become V3
certified and hire recently transitioned
veterans
•
Reinforce the premise that hiring veterans
is a smart business move and will stimulate
economic growth and development in the
“new Virginia economy”
•
Only distribute grant based on
actual
performance –
hiring and retention in
accordance with V3 Commitment
Veteran Employment Grant
Program Goals
•
Employer Criteria: (Defined terms in
bold
)
–
V3-certified
Business
with an Employer ID #
–
Fewer than 300 employees under
common control, at
time of grant application
•
Veteran
Criteria
–
Discharged from Active Duty within 1 year of
employment
–
Hired in a
Full-time
capacity
–
Paid at or above
prevailing average wage
–
Retained for at least one year – On or after Jul 1,
2014
•
The performance grant will not be awarded
until one year after the veteran has been
working
–
Veterans hired on/after July 1
st
,
2014
–
Earliest award would be July 1
st
,
2015
•
Small to mid-sized companies (300 or fewer
employees)
•
Company can apply after veteran has been employed
for one year
•
Applications and program will be managed by the
Department of Veterans Services (DVS)
Structure and
Definitions
•
V3-Certified
: Has completed all training requirements
under the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program and
has been approved for certification
•
Veteran
: “an individual who has served in the active
military, naval or air service, and who was discharged
or released therefrom under conditions other than
dishonorable.” (Code of Virginia
§
2.2-2001)
–
includes VANG and Reserves
Definitions
•
Business:
"Business" means any corporation, partnership,
electing small business (subchapter S) corporation, limited
liability company, or sole proprietorship authorized to do
business in the Commonwealth of Virginia. (
Virginia
Administrative Code 13VAC5-112-10
)
•
Common Control:
You and one or more other organizations have
(1) a majority of your governing boards or officers appointed or
elected by the same organization(s), or (2) a majority of your
governing boards or officers consist of the same individuals.
Common control also occurs when you and one or more
commonly controlled organizations have a majority ownership
interest in a corporation, partnership, or trust. Ownership means
voting power in a corporation, profits interest in a partnership, or
beneficial interest in a trust.
Definitions
•
Full-time Employee: Same as Enterprise Zone Job-Creation
Grants:
"Permanent full-time position" means a job of indefinite duration at a
business firm … requiring (i) a minimum of 35 hours of an
employee's time per week for the entire normal year of the business
firm's operation, which "normal year" must consist of at least 48
weeks, (ii) a minimum of 35 hours of an employee's time per week
for the portion of the calendar year in which the employee was
initially hired for or transferred to the business firm, or (iii) a
minimum of 1,680 hours per year…” (
Code of Virginia
§
59.1-547
)
Summary of Definitions
•
Veteran: Served in military, did not receive
a dishonorable discharge
•
Business: Private organization licensed with
the Commonwealth of Virginia
•
Common-control: Two or more companies
operating under same owner(s)
•
Full-time employee: Worked at least 35
hours per week, or 1680 hours per year (48
weeks)
Grant
Application
Process
www.dvsV3.com/V3Grant
www.dvsV3.com/V3Grant-Apply
13Webpage is live
and available to
public as of July 1
st
,
2015
•
Submit Application Online
–
Attach W9 to Online Application
–
Please double check data prior to submission
•
Please allow up to 10 business days for notification of
approval or rejection
•
Upon notice of approval, please allow up to 30 days for
payment of award
How long does it take to become V3-certified?
Companies have become certified in as short as one month; the average time to become certified is about three months; companies who have joined the V3 Program have one year from their initial application to complete their training.
How much does it cost to become V3-certified?
$0. All training and certification is provided to Virginia employers at no cost. There are no financial commitments required to become V3 certified.
Where can I find prevailing average wage for my locality?
You can find a table of prevailing average wages by locality by downloading the VEDP Prevailing Average Wage chart for Fiscal Year 2014.
How long does it take to receive the grant award?
Please allow 10 business days for approval or rejection; Please allow up to 30 business days for the award upon notification of approval.
Upon approval, can the grant award be disbursed through electronic fund transfer (EFT)?
In most cases, no. If your company is registered as a vendor with the Commonwealth of Virginia and has authorized EFT disbursing, then it is possible; however because of the increased time and effort it would take for both the awardee and the commonwealth, V3 will award grant funds by paper check.
I hired a Veteran on June 30th, 2015. Should I use Prevailing Average Wage data provided for Fiscal Year 2015, or 2016?
V3 will update its prevailing average wage data annually. This means the wage data posted for Fiscal Year 2015 may be used for any hire reported between July 1, 2014 and June 30th, 2015.
I hired a Veteran on June 30th, 2014. Am I eligible for the V3 Grant?
No. Grants are eligible for qualifying Veterans hired on or after July 1, 2014.
How do I verify a Veteran’s discharge date from active duty?
You may ask your Veteran employee for his or her discharge date as it appears on the DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), and ask to see this form.
My company uses a three-year rolling average to determine business size. Can I use this number for grant application purposes?
No. Companies must not have more than 300 employees under common controlon the date of application in order to qualify.
What is the definition of “Veteran” for purposes of this grant?
“Veteran” means an individual who has served in the active military, naval or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. (Code of Virginia § 2.2-2001)
What is the definition of “Business” for purposes of this grant?
"Business" means any corporation, partnership, electing small business (subchapter S) corporation, limited liability company, or sole proprietorship authorized to do business in the Commonwealth of Virginia. (Virginia Administrative Code 13VAC5-112-10)
What is the definition of “Full-time” for purposes of this grant?
“Permanent full-time position” means a job of indefinite duration at a business firm … requiring (i) a minimum of 35 hours of an employee’s time per week for the entire normal year of the business firm’s operation, which “normal year” must consist of at least 48 weeks, (ii) a minimum of 35 hours of an
employee’s time per week for the portion of the calendar year in which the employee was initially hired for or transferred to the business firm, or (iii) a minimum of 1,680 hours per year…” (Code of Virginia §
59.1-547)
Andrew Schwartz
V3 Program Manager
Virginia Department of Veterans Services
Andrew.Schwartz@dvs.virginia.gov
Regan Hertzler
V3 Deputy Program Manager
Virginia Department of Veterans Services
Regan.Hertzler@dvs.virginia.gov
