West Alabama – East Mississippi (WAEM) Regional Initiative: 

  • One of 13 original WIRED awards announced by former U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao on Feb. 1, 2006. 

  • One of only two bi-state initiatives announced.

  • WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) was a major component of President Bush's Competitiveness Agenda. 

  • Goal of WIRED 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.  

  • $15 million award.

  • May 10, 2006, Alabama Governor Bob Riley and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour executed a “Joint Memorandum of Understanding between the State of Alabama and the State of Mississippi Governing the Start-up of the West Alabama and East Mississippi WIRED Grant.” 

  • MOU provided the governance structure for WAEM and created the WAEM Commission.

  • Commission must positively affirm plans, budgets, and policies before they can be implemented. 

  • Alabama Office of Workforce Development (OWD) and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Development (ADECA) serve as the fiscal agent, designated by Gov. Riley. 

  • The Montgomery Institute (TMI) in Meridian, MS, serves as the managing entity, designated by Gov. Barbour.

  • Eight community and junior colleges serve as key program partners: