ETA News Release: [March 29, 2006]
Contact Name: David James or Mike Volpe
Phone Number: 202-693-4676 or 202-693-3984
Assistant Secretary of Labor DeRocco Joins Gov. Riley For Kickoff of West Alabama & East Mississippi Region’s WIRED Initiative
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco met with Alabama Gov. Bob Riley in Tuscaloosa today for the West Alabama & East Mississippi region’s kickoff of the WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) initiative.
“This region understands the vital role education and talent development play in preparing its workforce to compete well into the 21st century,” said DeRocco. “WIRED is an expression of President Bush’s belief that developing and applying the American people’s skills in productive and innovative ways are critical to keeping our nation competitive in the global economy.”
The Economic Transformation of Rural West Alabama – East Mississippi Alliance is a partnership of 36 counties with a vision to pull together players from education, business and workforce development to increase opportunities within the region by creating an identity that reflects a well-trained, enterprise-driven workforce.
The Alliance will map current assets in the region’s workforce and assess workforce and economic development needs. Additionally, a shared network of the region’s community colleges’ specialized programs and areas of expertise will be built to guide economic development efforts toward sectors with the greatest potential for growth in the region. Finally, the Alliance will encourage innovation and entrepreneurial activity through an Entrepreneurial Development System that will be delivered through the region’s community college network
On Feb. 1, the U.S. Department of Labor selected the West Alabama & East Mississippi region as one of 13 regions to take part in the $195 million WIRED initiative as a complement to the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative. Participating regions will be awarded $15 million over three years.
WIRED aims to expand employment and advancement opportunities for American workers and spur the creation of high-skill and high-wage opportunities throughout the country. Regions selected for WIRED seek to improve their competitiveness through the transformation of their economies and the systems and structures that support them. Regional economies in Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida, Alabama/Mississippi, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Montana and California are participating in WIRED.
###
U.S. Labor Department (DOL) releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call (202) 693-7765 or TTY (202) 693-7755. DOL is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.
