Category: Veterans

0 0
Read Time:1 Minute, 39 Second

Annville, PA – As the nation celebrates Women’s History Month in March, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) reminds drivers that purchasing an Honoring Our Women Veterans License Plate both recognizes the importance of women who served and supports programs assisting the nearly 64,000 women veterans in Pennsylvania.

Each plate costs $40, with $15 going directly to the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Trust Fund (VTF). The VTF regularly issues grants to statewide charitable organizations assisting veterans service organizations and county directors of veterans affairs. The grants are used to aid veterans in need of shelter, essential goods and other services.

“Women veterans have played key roles in our nation’s military history since the Revolutionary War and they have earned every recognition for their service and sacrifices,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “Everyone who purchases one of these plates is sending an important message that Pennsylvania appreciates everything women veterans have done in defense of our nation.”

“PennDOT takes pride in acknowledging the accomplishments of women veterans through the offering of this special license plate,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “This plate, which is displayed on vehicles traveling throughout the commonwealth and beyond, serves as a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by women veterans in preserving our freedom.”

The Honoring Our Women Veterans license plate is available for passenger cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds.

Additionally, Honoring Our Veterans license plates for passenger cars, trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds, and motorcycles are available for $41 each, with $15 from each plate also going to the VTF.

In addition to the sales of these license plates, there are a variety of programs designed to help fund the VTF in support of Pennsylvania’s more than 700,000 veterans. To learn more about how to purchase these plates and support the VTF, visit www.vtf.pa.gov

About Post Author

Lancaster NUZ Team

WNUZ Website Admin Top Level
wlri93fm@gmail.com
https://wnuz.org
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %
0 0
Read Time:2 Minute, 41 Second

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker today announced the availability of $800,000 in grant funding to support Veterans Employment Program (VEP) projects committed to connecting veterans with competitive job opportunities and helping address barriers to gainful employment.

The VEP initiative is designed to help veterans, members of all Reserves units and the Pennsylvania National Guard, and spouses of veterans and service members translate their military skills to civilian life. Eligible applicants include local workforce development boards, non-profit and non-governmental entities, community-based organizations, education and post-secondary institutions, labor organizations, business associations and economic development groups.

“Pennsylvania is home to more than 700,000 veterans – the fourth largest veteran population in the nation. Because of their sacrifice, we must ensure these individuals have access to every opportunity they need to successfully transition back into civilian life,” said Secretary Walker. “VEP funding is not only an investment in veterans and their families – it helps employers reach an untapped labor pool that will ultimately strengthen Pennsylvania communities and the Commonwealth’s economy.”

Governor Josh Shapiro has identified workforce development as a top priority of the Administration through an expansion of job-training, career and technical education, and apprenticeship programs that give Pennsylvanians, including veterans and their families, the freedom to chart their own course.

According to the Coordination of Veterans Services In Pennsylvania: A Task Force and Advisory Committee Report, in March 2021, many veterans choose to engage in educational pathways after separation from the armed forces but do not complete the education due to PTSD and/or financial problems. In addition, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, active-duty military spouses earn approximately 26.8 percent less than their non-military spouse peers and 63 percent are underemployed, due to barriers such as interview bias, skills gaps, and licensing requirements.

“The transition from military service to civilian life is challenging. Our servicemembers and their families deserve every advantage we can offer to ensure a stress-free and successful transition,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “These grants will reduce the stress of the transition process and provide veterans one less thing to worry about as they begin their new career. We are grateful to L&I and the Shapiro Administration for recognizing the exceptional skills veterans bring to the workplace, and for helping them find meaningful employment.”

One grant will be awarded to a program serving only Delaware County, a region with a disproportionately high number of veteran residents than in other Pennsylvania counties while three other awards will be provided across Pennsylvania.

Successful applicants will identify opportunities for new and innovative projects to expand veteran employment opportunities, close funding gaps, or supplement existing initiatives for more comprehensive services. Applicants also need to demonstrate how they would bring together businesses, education, workforce, community, and other partners to achieve employment support for veterans.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. on November 15, 2023.

More information about Veterans Employment Program grant funding and other available grant opportunities can be found on L&I’s website.

About Post Author

Lancaster NUZ Team

WNUZ Website Admin Top Level
wlri93fm@gmail.com
https://wnuz.org
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %
0 0
Read Time:2 Minute, 18 Second

Non-construction prime contractors must pay their small diverse business and veteran-owned business enterprise subcontractors within 10 days of receipt of payment from the Commonwealth.​

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Reggie McNeil announced the Commonwealth has implemented a prompt pay policy that requires prime contractors to pay small diverse business (SDB) and veteran-owned business (VBE) subcontractors faster for goods and services provided to the Commonwealth under state contracts.

“Governor Shapiro has made clear that state government’s top priority should be serving the people of our Commonwealth, and I am pleased to announce the implementation of our new prompt pay policy that will ensure small diverse businesses and veteran-owned businesses providing goods and services to the Commonwealth are paid quickly and efficiently as we continue our efforts to improve their experience in the state contracting system,” Secretary McNeil said. “We all know the important role access to capital plays in the sustainability of our small business community, and the sooner these businesses are paid for their goods and services, the sooner they can invest it in the next opportunity that will strengthen and grow their business. By helping our small diverse and veteran-owned businesses succeed, we’re growing our economy and supporting good-paying jobs across Pennsylvania.”

The policy, which was initiated by the DGS Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities (BDISBO), requires prime contractors providing the Commonwealth with non-construction goods and services to pay their SDB/VBE subcontractors for their completed and accepted deliverables within 10 days of receipt of their payment from the Commonwealth. The policy will not affect the payment rate for construction programs which is statutorily mandated at 14 days.

The prompt pay policy is being implemented through the goal setting program requirements of qualifying solicitations for goods and services. Through the Letter of Commitment (LOC), both the prime and SDB/VBE subcontractors acknowledge and agree to the compliance requirements, including payment within 10 days following the submission of proper invoicing documentation for their completed and accepted deliverables. The LOC also requires execution for a proposer to successfully be awarded a state contract.

Several other improvements, in addition to the prompt pay policy, have been implemented by the BDISBO team in 2023, including:

  • reducing the time it takes to certify a small business with DGS by 33%;
  • conducting frequent Supplier Search workshops aimed at educating small minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses on the available contracting opportunities within DGS’s construction and commodities bureaus; and
  • monthly notifications of upcoming contracting opportunities to allow for better resource planning and statewide outreach efforts to grow the pool of registered SBs/SDBs/VBEs.

To learn more about BDISBO or to certify your SB/SDB/VBE visit BDISBO online.

About Post Author

Lancaster NUZ Team

WNUZ Website Admin Top Level
wlri93fm@gmail.com
https://wnuz.org
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %
Categories
Community Watch Covering The Commonwealth Current Events Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Pennsylvania Veterans

Amputee And Paralyzed Veterans Pension Program Available To Veterans

Annville, PA – During National Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month in April, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) wants to ensure […]