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Five million dollars in federal grant money is coming to the delta region of Arkansas according to a recent announcement by Emily DeRocco, Assistant Secretary for the US Department of Labor.  This $5 million is part of the WIRED program announced in 2007. The program was initiated in 2005 to assist areas across the nation address the issues of poor employment outlook and sluggish economic growth.

Here’s the latest update on the Arkansas unemployment grant. The state continues to prepare a detailed plan for the wire grant, using the first half million dollars in funds. Once that plan is completed and approved, the US Dept. of Labor will release the balance of the five million dollars. 

The Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) program awarded $195 million in federal grants during the first round of operation in 2005.  These original grants were distributed to 13 regions cited by their state governors as areas where economic performance is stagnant and unemployment rates are high.  The current round of grants is expected to exceed $65 million. 

According to Secretary DeRocco, “Strong regional economies that are built on maximizing talent and innovation will be crucial to the nation’s success in the global economy.” 

In its effort to maximize talent and boost innovation in the delta region of Arkansas, the US Department of Labor is awarding $5 million to be used to train and update skills of many workers in the region.  The $5 million will be funded in two phases.  The first phase of funds, $500,000, will be used for immediate training opportunities while the remaining $4.5 million will be funded once an implementation plan for the region has been established. 

The WIRED program falls under the auspices of the Employment and Training Administration within the US Department of Labor.  US Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao recently endorsed the program by stating, “Investing in area workforces through this collaborative approach will boost entire regions’ economic vitality.”  Secretary Chao further states, “This regional economic development strategy transcends political boundaries to better leverage a region’s assets to help workers succeed in the 21st century worldwide economy.”

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