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What is WIRED?
The WIRED Initiative (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic
Development), launched in November 2005, stresses the critical role talent
development plays in creating effective regional economic development
strategies. WIRED goes beyond traditional strategies for worker preparation
by bringing together state, local and federal entities; academic institutions
(including K-12, community colleges and universities); investment groups;
foundations; and business and industry to address the challenges associated
with building a globally competitive and prepared workforce. Click
here for more information. Missouri was one of only 13 states/areas in
the country to receive a WIRED grant in the initiative's first round; this is
our OneKC WIRED program that is still going strong. Recently, Missouri was
again one of only 13 states/areas in the country to receive a WIRED grant in
the initiative's Generation III round.
The Commerce Corridor of Southeast Missouri WIRED region
A 14-county region in southeast Missouri (the 13 Southeast Area
counties plus Butler County) has been designated as The Commerce Corridor of
Southeast Missouri WIRED region. This area has an ideal infrastructure for
commerce, linked to St. Louis and Memphis by the Mississippi River and
Interstate 55. The Commerce Corridor area has a total population of 382,549,
according to the U.S. Census. It primarily revolves around Cape Girardeau,
which not only serves as the geographic center of the region, but also its
economic engine – an attractor of workers from surrounding counties and as
the primary retail, medical, educational, and industrial hub within a
100-mile radius. The region will promote innovation to nurture a new economy
through new initiatives and the expansion of existing exemplary programs to
accomplish four goals: accelerate business productivity and economic
development; accelerate skills of current and dislocated workforce;
accelerate skills of emerging student pipeline; and accelerate
entrepreneurship.
Schedule of
upcoming meetings
Applications
If you would like to get involved with the initiative contact e-mail
Janet Witter or call 573.334.0990
for more information.
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Southeast Region Receives
$5 Million Dollar WIRED Grant
Southeast Region WIRED
Grant Overview
Requests for
Proposals
None |
