AUGUSTA, Maine — Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco today participated with Gov. John E. Baldacci in the Coastal Maine region's kickoff of the WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) initiative.

"Coastal Maine has a long history leading the boat and shipbuilding trades, and with WIRED the region will continue this tradition while upgrading the skills of its workers to meet changing industry demands," said DeRocco. "WIRED is an expression of President Bush's belief that developing and applying the American people's skills in productive and innovative ways are critical to keeping our nation competitive in the global economy."

The North Star Alliance will lead the project with a strategy to confront the changing demands of Coastal Maine's boat and shipbuilding industry. The Alliance seeks to leverage recent technological successes in composite and advanced materials and apply them to products ranging from sporting goods to ballistic armor. It will focus its workforce development, research and development and infrastructure development on sectors that make up or support the marine trades, including waterfront infrastructure, marine service and repair, and building products.

Major partners in the North Star Alliance include the Maine Composites Alliance, Maine Built Boats Inc., and the Maine Marine Trade Association, jointly representing over 285 companies. Additional partners include the Governor's Office, several state departments, the University of Maine, the Maine Community College System, the Maine Technology Institute, Eastern Maine Development Corporation, the Maine Community Foundation and local and regional workforce investment boards.

On Feb. 1, the U.S. Department of Labor selected Coastal Maine as one of 13 regions to take part in the $195 million WIRED initiative as a complement to the President's American Competitiveness Initiative. Participating regions will be awarded $15 million over three years.

WIRED aims to expand employment and advancement opportunities for American workers and spur the creation of high skill and high wage opportunities throughout the country. Regions selected for WIRED seek to improve their competitiveness through the transformation of their economies and the systems and structures that support them. Regional economies in Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida, Alabama/Mississippi, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Montana and California are participating in WIRED.