Governor Schweitzer Announces $15 Million Economic Development Grant for Eastern MT. -Full Project Narrative

Governor Brian Schweitzer today announced Montana has been
awarded a $15 million grant from the Workforce Innovation in Regional
Economic Development (WIRED) http://www.doleta.gov/ Initiative. The grant was one of 13 awarded
from 97 applicants nationwide.

"Economic development in central and eastern Montana is a priority,"
said Governor Schweitzer. "This grant will help get dollars on the
ground to help revitalize the economy with energy development while
adding value to Montana’s agricultural products."

http://dli.mt.gov/pub/wired022006.pdf

The grant is set up to spur the evolution of Montana’s workforce through
the creation of innovative biolubricant and bioproduct industry in
central and eastern Montana. Such industry could include oilseed
products and biodiesel.

"This is another step for Montana is reducing our dependence on foreign
oil," added Schweitzer.

The Governor selected the State Workforce Investment Board, in
partnership with the Department of Labor and Industry to lead this
project.

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The New Homestead Act: Montanans for Bio-Product Development

Full Project Narrative: http://www.matr.net/files/WIREDGrantProposal.pdf

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Sarah J. Elliott

Communications Director

Governor Brian Schweitzer

406-444-9725

[email protected]

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U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced a major component of President Bush’s Competitiveness Agenda, unveiled last night during the State of the Union Address. Through the WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) http://www.doleta.gov/ initiative, the U.S. Department of Labor will invest $195 million in thirteen regional economies.

"We are launching the WIRED initiative to encourage regional communities to partner together and leverage their collective public and private sector assets and resources to develop a more highly skilled workforce that can act as the linchpin to attract new economic development and employers," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

The goal of the WIRED initiative is to transform regional economies by enlisting the skills of the numerous and varied players in those economies to research and produce long-term strategic plans that prepare workers for high-skill, high-wage opportunities in the coming years and into the next decade.

"The only way to address the national challenge of global competition is by building strong regional economies," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "By bringing together all the key players including research universities, venture capital firms and traditional organizations of economic and workforce development, regions can optimize their ability to innovate."

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

* Coastal Maine (11 counties, including Augusta and Brunswick) http://boothbayregister.maine.com/2006-02-09/maine_boatbuilders_grant.html

* 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) http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_business/article/0,2777,DRMN_23916_4434775,00.html

* Central & Eastern Montana (32 counties covering mostly rural areas) http://www.matr.net/files/MontanansforBio-ProductDevelopment.pdf

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