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Wyoming Unemployment Grant

June 8th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

When Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao announced the second production of WIRED grants, she stated, “Investing in area workforces through this collaborative approach will boost entire regions’ economic vitality.” WIRED, or Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development Initiative, is one of the efforts of the Dept of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration is making to help the economy. One of the major motivations if the Department of Labor to run the WIRED grants program is keeping job skills up to date and viable in the changing job market.

Secretary Chao went on to say, “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.”

The third generation of WIRED grants was newly announced by the Department of Labor. In a prior round, awards went to the Wyoming/Arkansas Delta area, the Delaware Valley, and northern California along with a few others.

Receiving a Wyoming unemployment grant would of course greatly benefit the state. The WIRED grants program is extremely competitive, and with all regions competing, there is always the chance that it might not happen. Everyone hopes for the chance to help their local economy improve.

The state governor is in charge of overseeing the grant proposals that are being submitted for the program. Secretary Chao sent announcement letters out to each governor in the country. Each state has the chance to submit up to two proposals at up to $5 million a piece. Sources of complementary funding from the state, region, or private organizations should be outlined in each proposal.

The Department of Labor has thus far invested $260 million in 26 regions across the United States. Ten federal agencies have cooperated to create high skill and high wage job opportunities through the WIRED Initiative program. The WIRED grants program is in favor of pioneering approaches to economic development. Approaches to workforce training that go beyond traditional strategies, such as WIRED, help prepare workers to compete in the job market.