Through the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) initiative, the Department of Labor today announced the investment of $195 million in thirteen regional economies.

Each of the following regions will receive $15 million over a three-year period:

• Coastal Maine (11 counties, including Augusta and Brunswick)

• Northeast Pennsylvania (nine counties, including Scranton, Allentown and Reading)

• Upstate New York (nine counties, including Rochester and Finger Lakes region)

• Piedmont Triad North Carolina (12 counties, including Greensboro and Winston-Salem)

• Central Michigan (13 counties, including Lansing, Flint and Saginaw)

• Western Michigan (seven counties, including Grand Rapids)

• Florida Panhandle (16 counties, including Tallahassee and Pensacola)

• Western Alabama & Eastern Mississippi (17 counties in Alabama, including Tuscaloosa and Selma and 19 counties in Mississippi, including Meridian and Starkville)

• North Central Indiana (14 counties, including Lafayette)

• Greater Kansas City (10 counties in Missouri and eight counties in Kansas, including Topeka)

• Denver Metro Region (eight counties, including Denver, Boulder and Ft. Collins)

• Central & Eastern Montana (32 counties covering mostly rural areas)

• California Coast(13 counties, including Oakland, Los Angeles and San Diego)

February 1 News Release

WIRED: Selected Regions

WIRED: Fact Sheet with Selection Factors, Next Steps

State of the Union: American Competitiveness Initiative

American Competitiveness Initiative Booklet

President's Letter

Overview

Leading the World in Innovation

American Competitiveness Initiative Research

Leading the World in Talent and Creativity

Conclusion

Created: March 27, 2004

Updated: January 26, 2010