VETS Fact Sheet 5

US Department of Labor Program Highlights Veterans' Employment and Training Service

Fact Sheet VETS - 05

VETERANS WORKFORCE INVESTMENT PROGRAM (VWIP):

The statutory intent of P.L. 105-220, Workforce Investment Act, Section 168, Veterans= Workforce Investment Programs (VWIP), is to support employment and training programs, through grants or contracts, program to meet the needs for workforce investment activities of veterans with service-connected disabilities, veterans who have significant barriers to employment, veterans who served on active duty in the armed forces during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, and recently separated veterans.

The VWIP program is administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training (OASVET). The annual funding for Veterans= Workforce Investment Programs (VWIP) is authorized by legislation and derived as a percentage of the total annual Workforce Investment authorization. Most of the appropriated funds are used to support two-year grants awarded to eligible entities through a competitive, Solicitation-of-Grant Applications (SGA) process conducted in even-numbered years. Eligible entities include state and local governments, private, not-for-profit organizations including community based and faith based organizations.

The competitive process allows for two-year grant programs, the second year funding is based on performance and availability of funds. The intent of VWIP is to provide employment and training services to eligible veterans in the attempt to place veterans into gainful employment.

These programs can provide for, but are not limited to training (formal classroom or on-the-job training), retraining, job placement assistance, and support services, including testing, counseling. Grantees may choose to supplement the core training by offering other services that also enhance the employability of participants. These programs complement services generally provided by States through mainstream WIA program operators under Title 1, and the Wagner-Peyser Act.

Veterans may also be eligible for services under other WIA titles, which assist economically disadvantaged or dislocated workers with employment, training, and other workforce development services. VWIP allows for specialized employment, training and educational resources to be tailored to meet the needs of the specific target populations of veterans served. In many programs, minority, female, economically disadvantaged, homeless and/or disabled veterans can be targeted to receive these specialized resources. Projects that enhance direct veterans' training-related services, that emphasize service to sub-categories of the eligible veterans target groups, and demonstration or research projects that are considered unique or innovative receive priority consideration.

For more information about U.S. Department of Labor employment and training programs for veterans, contact the Employment and Training Service office nearest you, listed in the phone book in the United States Government under the Labor Department or visit our site:

http://www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/main.htm.

This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S. Department of Labor programs.