NCI WIRED approves new Proposals

As you've seen posted here, a few weeks ago we learned that we had WIRED dollars remaining to fund some additional projects. In total, we had an additional $650K. We released an RFP, held an Opportunity Forum and ended up with about 30 new proposals totaling more than $2 million. Our proposal review team convened late last week to score these proposals. We have now notified the top 10 proposals that they have been selected to receive the last round of WIRED funding. We are confident that these represent good additions to our WIRED portfolio. They include the following:

The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce (partnering with 7 LEDOs) to add to their capacity to make solid workforce and economic development strategies by purchasing an economic modeling tool. The other half of the region already uses this tool and now the entire region can make better-informed decisions;

The Purdue Center for Regional Development (partnering with IUK and the Regional Leadership Institute) to develop a region-wide tool kit (maps and analysis) for informing regional discussions, obtaining future funding, and for public education;

The Purdue Department of Building Construction Management (partnering with Ivy Tech) to retrain residential and commercial construction workers for road and bridge construction;

The Purdue Burton Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship (partnering with SBDC and IEDC) to link entrepreneurship certificate students with start-ups and small businesses throughout the region;

The Tecumseh Area Partnership for the role out of the region’s new “State of the Workforce” report;

Ivy Tech Lafayette (partnering with local auto dealerships) on the development of a Battery Technician and Electric Vehicle Technology Training Program;

The Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance and the Purdue College of Technology in Kokomo for the Renewable and Advanced Energy Workforce initiative;

Ivy Tech Kokomo for an Industrial Welding Process Certification program;

Miami County Economic Development Authority (partnering with Ivy Tech, IUK, and Purdue, and area LEDOs) to launch a re-employment strategy that better integrates workforce and economic development;

Purdue TAP for development of distance-learning delivery of the Green Workforce Generalist program.

In total, this investment of $650K will result in significant impact for the region:

·         352 learners receiving new skills

·         Alignment of workforce development, economic development, and education

·         Better decision-making and strategy tools for economic workforce and agencies

North Central Indiana continues to be noted by the U.S. Department of Labor as the top WIRED region in terms of our innovative work, solid performance, and sound management. Data (shown below) from DOL shows how favorably we compare to the other 12 Generation One WIRED regions. You will note that we are not only on top, but far above the other regions in terms of our metrics. Thanks to all of our partners for their roles in doing this good work and in helping our region to garner such a solid reputation.

Scott Hutcheson

13 Generation 1 WIRED Regions – as of Quarter Ending September 30, 2008