Regan N. Hertzler V3 Deputy Program Manager and Grant Manager, DVS
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 efficient and successful. 2
Virginia s Veteran Population 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!
Veteran Employment Grant Program Goals 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
Eligibility Criteria 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
Structure and Implementation (Cont.) 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)
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 7
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. 8
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) 9
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) 10
Grant Application Process 11
www.dvsv3.com/v3grant 12
www.dvsv3.com/v3grant-apply Webpage is live and available to public as of July 1 st, 2015 13
Employer Process 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
FAQs 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.
FAQs 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 control on the date of application in order to qualify.
FAQs 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 www.dvsv3.com