The Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS), a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, awarded the State of Kansas Department of Commerce $798,780 under the Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) program (CFDA 17.801) effective October 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027. As a formula grant recipient, Kansas does not subaward these funds and instead uses the allocation to support three core staffing positions within American Job Centers across the state: Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists who deliver individualized career services to veterans with significant employment barriers, particularly those who are economically or educationally disadvantaged; Local Veterans' Employment Representatives (LVERs) who conduct employer outreach and advocacy to increase hiring opportunities for veterans and disabled veterans; and consolidated DVOP/LVER staff who serve in a dual capacity.
The program targets eligible service populations including service-connected special disabled veterans, other disabled veterans, economically or educationally disadvantaged veterans, homeless veterans, and veterans with other significant barriers to employment. JVSG-funded staff prepare veterans and transitioning service members for meaningful careers by providing employment resources, expertise, and job placement support. Kansas is required to maintain cost accounting, timekeeping, and performance records in accordance with the grant agreement and applicable Department of Labor regulations, with up to three fiscal years available to expend the annual allocation.