"U.S. Department of Labor Awards $250,000 Grant To Develop Long-term Workforce Strategies"

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a $250,000 Regional Innovation Grant to develop long-term workforce strategies for the Seven Rivers tri-state region, which includes Southeast Minnesota, Western Wisconsin and Northeast Iowa.

“Northeast Iowa is very excited about this opportunity to enhance our already strong partnerships with the Seven Rivers Tri-State region. This is a great opportunity to asset map our strengths and areas we can enhance to best serve our business community to assure we are meeting their skilled workforce demands now and into the future.” said Wendy Mihm-Herold, Iowa Workforce Development Regional Manager.

The grant, awarded to Workforce Development Inc., will also support efforts to identify, analyze and map the assets of the Seven Rivers tri-state region. Iowa counties include: Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek, along with eight counties in Western Wisconsin and eleven counties in Southeast Minnesota.

The project will build on relationships that already exist among the region’s four Workforce Investment Boards. The project’s leadership group consists of members of workforce development organizations, educational institutions, training providers, employers, chambers of commerce and economic development agencies from across the region.
The Regional Innovation Grant will assist the local Workforce Investment Boards, as well as their key partners, in the design of strategic regional plans focused on talent development that is aligned with the demands of the 21st century economy.

For more information on the Seven Rivers Regional Innovation Grant, contact Wendy Mihm-Herold, Regional Manager, Iowa Workforce Development/NICC at (563) 382-0457.