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Nevada Unemployment Grant

June 6th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

So far, the U.S. Labor Department has awarded $260 million in WIRED grants to 26 regions throughout the country. Each of those regions had one thing in common. That was a stagnant economy with high unemployment.

The third round of WIRED grants has been announced. The name stands for Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development. As the name suggests, grants are awarded to proposals that offer new, non-traditional, and innovative ways of answering the challenges involved in making a region’s workforce relevant to the 21st century and its global marketplace.

“This regional economic development strategy,” said U.S. Labor Secretary Chao, “transcends political boundaries to better leverage a region’s assets to help workers succeed in the 21st century worldwide economy.” The initiative operates under the umbrella of the Employment and Training Administration, part of the Labor Department.

A Nevada unemployment grant would help workers in regions of the state where unemployment has been an ongoing challenge. Such a grant would join others already awarded in northern Indiana, northern Alabama, the Delaware Valley, northern California, and the Mississippi/Arkansas Delta.

The grants are highly competitive. The process begins when Secretary Chao announces the latest generation of grants to every governor in the state. Regions submit grant proposals to governors, and governors may choose two per state, each with a maximum request of $5 million.

“Investing in area workforces through this collaborative approach,” said Secretary Chao, “will boost entire regions economic vitality.”