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Oklahoma Unemployment Grant

June 1st, 2007 Posted by Amelia

The Employment and Training Administration within the United States Department of labor initiated the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development initiative (WIRED) last year. The WIRED grants program offers up to two opportunities for each region in the United States to submit a grant proposal requesting up to $5 million. The grants are an investment that the Department of Labor is making to improve the economic conditions of regions that have particular difficulty keeping the unemployment numbers low.

Elaine Chao, the Secretary of Labor, gave the third call for grant proposals for the WIRED initiative. In the last two calls, there was a flood of highly competitive responses from every region. Between the two productions, 26 regions were awarded. Investments totaled $260 million dollars in grant money split between these regions. The economic boost, I’m sure, was greatly appreciated.

An Oklahoma unemployment grant was issued, as well as one for the northern areas of California, Indiana and Alabama, to name a few. It is more than likely that another great flood of responses will be submitted to the Dept of Labor for the third round. If the government is willing to help out these regions, why wouldn’t they take a chance at a proposal? The only thing that these regions are risking is not getting selected. There is nothing to lose.

It is not always easy to find work. That is why keeping one’s skills up to speed with the changes in the job market is key. The WIRED grants program is one that can truly help improve the regional economies of many areas that are lacking. Career training and other educational programs are just one way to help people find work. Higher paying and high skilled jobs have to constantly be created as more and more people are seeking higher education. Our Secretary of Labor says, “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.”