labor lawAdivision of labor law center

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a $250,000 Regional Innovation Grant to northern Idaho, The funds will be used  to establish a strategic plan to expand the local economy.

 

The grant will train workers and develop the regional economy in Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, in Idaho.

 

This area of Idaho has long depended upon wood, paper and other forest products for its economic security. However, in today’s market, those industries are becoming less viable, in part due to competition from overseas. The grant is the first step in identifying additional industries for the area, and training workers to fulfill those needs. 

 

“This grant will assist the Idaho panhandle’s plans to prepare its workforce for careers in emerging regional industries such as advanced manufacturing and biotechnology,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent R. Orrell.

 

Other recent National Emergency Grants have been awarded to western Kentucky in the wake of extensive plant closures, and to Gulf Coast areas of Texas ravaged by Hurricane Dolly.

 

The Idaho grant, awarded to the Idaho Department of Labor, will support a regional assessment to map the area’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks based on its assets. The result will advance the creation of talent development strategies focused on the area’s promising advanced manufacturing, aerospace, biomedical and biotechnology sectors.

 

The long, narrow “panhandle” area of Idaho has struggled with higher unemployment than the rest of the state, and fewer industries, resulting in sluggish economic growth.

 

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor’s discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state’s ability to meet specific guidelines. For more information, visit www.doleta.gov/NEG.

 

Regional Innovation Grants such as this one are drawn from National Emergency Grant funds to assist state workforce agencies and local workforce investment boards, plus their key partners, in the development of strategic regional plans focused on talent development aligned with the demands of the 21st century economy, according to the US Department of Labor.

 

 

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