Maryland Unemployment Grant

June 1st, 2007 Posted by Amelia

Has your region been waiting for another opportunity for a Maryland unemployment grant?  Well, I have good news for you.  The WIRED grants program is being offered for yet a third time, the Dept of Labor announced it recently.  The Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development is a highly competitive grant application processes designed to help those pockets of high unemployment throughout the United States.

While announcing the second run of WIRED grants, Elaine Chao, the Secretary of Labor stated, “Investing in area workforces through this collaborative approach will boost entire regions’ economic vitality.”  Creating news jobs, improving working facilities, and offering career training are among the things that these investments support.  With the needs of the job market being so dynamic, it is vital for individuals to keep their skills updated and competitive.  These grants are key in assisting local areas with improving the job market and economy in their regions.

Several federal agencies have combined their efforts to create high skill job opportunities in regional economies as a result of the WIRED initiative.  Twenty-six areas have been assisted with unemployment grants during the last two WIRED grant competitions.  Some of the areas that were awarded include northern Alabama, northern Indiana, the Delaware Valley, and the Maryland/Arkansas Delta area. Investments so far total $260 million.  The Department of Labor is looking to do it once again.

Secretary Elaine Chao also commented, “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.” 
For the third WIRED grants competition, all of the same rules apply.  Each region is allowed to submit up to 2 grant proposals requesting up to $5 million.  Additional sources of funds for the proposal, such as private funding, state funding, should be outlined in the proposal as a complimentary regional investment. 

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