Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities Award Summary

The Vermont Department of Labor received a formula grant award of $2.179 million from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) for the Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities program (CFDA 17.207), effective July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. This award funds universal access employment services designed to connect job seekers with employment opportunities and assist employers in identifying qualified candidates. Core services provided to job seekers include labor exchange services, job search assistance, career assessments, career guidance, job search workshops, workforce information dissemination, and referrals to employment and training opportunities. Services offered to employers include job order posting, applicant referral and matching, recruitment support for specialized positions, and assistance with job restructuring and layoff support.

The program explicitly excludes direct training services, focusing instead on career guidance and labor exchange to facilitate rapid workforce reentry. The Vermont Department of Labor may subaward portions of grant funds to conduct labor market information research and deliver specific services such as career assessments, guidance, and job search workshops. As a universal access program, services are available to all Vermont residents seeking employment, with priority extended to veterans and other covered populations. The award supports the department's role as the state workforce agency in administering federally-funded employment programs through American Job Centers statewide.