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ETA News Release: [08/07/2008]
Contact Name: Terry Shawn or Jennifer Kaplan
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676 or x5052
Release Number: 08-1126-SEA

U.S. Department of Labor awards $250,000 to Idaho to establish regional strategic plan in panhandle

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $250,000 Regional Innovation Grant to a five-county area of northern Idaho to establish a strategic plan to expand its regional economy beyond a forest products base.

"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.

The 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 region targeted for this project consists of the following counties: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone.

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

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.