Early Implementation of Generation I of the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative. 2007 Interim Evaluation Report

摘要

Global competition is a compelling national challenge. Increasingly, the globalization of the economy is determining where Americans work, how much money they are paid, and the level of prosperity in the regions in which they live. New jobs and markets are being created, the vast majority of them in what many refer to as the new economy of small entrepreneurial and innovative companies. In today's global economy, focusing on knowledge-based industries and high value-added jobs is essential, whether a communitys concern is building, renewing, or sustaining its prosperity. Diversification, adaptation, and continuous innovation are essential to long-term regional prosperity in the U.S. To carry out the development and implementation of such strategies, and to support President George W. Bush's broader Competitiveness Agenda, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative in November 2005. The premise of the WIRED Initiative is that national competitiveness and regional prosperity are possible if communities learn how to link their varied knowledge resources with their business and innovation assets, and ensure that their workforces have the new skills and knowledge required to work effectively in new and emerging industries.