Total request was $260,000 of which VA will pay half or $130,000 and SVH will contribute the other half

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration awarded the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs $130,000 under the Payments to States for Programs to Promote the Hiring and Retention of Nurses at State Veterans Homes program (CFDA 64.053) on October 1, 2025.

The award funds a nursing staff retention and recruitment program at a State Veterans Home consisting of certified nursing assistant tuition reimbursement, sign-on bonuses to attract new hires, overtime bonuses to encourage weekend staffing during shortages, perfect attendance bonuses for employees completing full shifts without call-outs, and a staff appreciation fund to provide food and gifts for nursing staff attending educational seminars. The total program budget was $260,000, with the VA contributing $130,000 and the State Veterans Home contributing the remaining $130,000.

Performance runs through September 30, 2026, with work performed in New Jersey. The award is structured as a Project Grant, with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs serving as the recipient state entity. Under 38 U.S.C. § 1744, payments support hiring and retention of nurses providing direct clinical care to residents, excluding administrative nursing roles.

Their program will consist of an CNA tuition program, sign-on, overtime, and perfect attendance bonuses and a staff appreciation fund. Sign-on bonuses are used to attract new hires while the overtime bonus is used to encourage staff to work weekends during staffing shortages. Perfect attendance bonuses are given to employees who work their full shifts without call-outs. Staff appreciation funds will be used to provide food and gifts for nursing staff that attend educational seminars.