Cape Girardeau, Mo. – Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco today joined Mayor of Cape Girardeau Jay B. Knudtson, Missouri Division of Workforce Development Director Rod Nunn, and leaders in business and education for the Southeast Missouri Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) kickoff summit.

“Southeast Missouri’s economy is poised to become a culture of innovation in which employers and education providers work together to build the area’s prepared workforce of tomorrow,” said DeRocco. “Generations of expertise in agriculture and manufacturing combined with innovative approaches to talent and entrepreneurial development will allow Southeast Missouri to expand its economic reach to growing industries eager to compete in today’s global marketplace.”

Southeast Missouri WIRED partners will foster entrepreneurship and develop talent for industries with high growth potential. The regional economy is transitioning from a reliance on agriculture, traditional manufacturing and shipping to a focus on high growth industries requiring a more educated and skilled workforce. The Missouri Department of Economic Development has identified industry clusters on which the region will focus, including healthcare, biofuels, advanced manufacturing, inter-modal transportation; agri-business and tourism.

Southeast Missouri WIRED’s partner organizations are split into three teams, each designed to work in a particular subject area. The GrowSmart team will include local, county and regional economic development leaders who will work toward new business development and implementation of innovative growth strategies. The SkillSmart Team will consist of leaders in education who will develop programs to enhance education delivery and focus educational programs on industry clusters. The BizStart team will be comprised of leaders in entrepreneurial training and investment, and will assist entrepreneurs in starting new businesses and in providing management counseling to existing businesses.

On June 20, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration named Southeast Missouri one of the 13 competitively selected regions that make up WIRED’s third generation. First launched in February 2006, WIRED is a major complement to the president’s American Competitiveness Initiative, with 39 regions now engaged in ongoing economic and talent development activities in parts of 31 states and Puerto Rico.  For more information on the WIRED initiative, please visit www.doleta.gov/wired.