Building the workforce of tomorrow
The Success Stories online knowledge base includes profiles of all of the Metro Denver WIRED Projects and Grantees. Users can choose to view a summary of each grant the Metro Denver WIRED Initiative has disbursed by either project or grantee.
Learn more about the projects.
Learn more about the grantees.
The Metro Denver WIRED Initiative has completed the first two of three rounds of grants. The third round of grants will be finalized shortly. The first two rounds of grants are expected to:
- Prepare nearly 500 educators for instruction in WIRED industries or STEM skills
- Impact 10,000 students as a result of educator training
- Provide outreach to low-income and minority participants (11 of the 20 programs)
- Develop or revise curricula for 38 courses; 27 new work-based programs (including clinical experiences and internships); 11 career guidance programs; 38 partnership and outreach projects among education, industry and workforce system partners; and six remediation/bridge programs
- Train 1,500 people for careers in WIRED industries
- Allow 700 participants to receive an education- or industry-certified credential
- Place 1,000 people in jobs in WIRED industries.
Jumpstart
In January 2007, funds were awarded through the JumpStart grant program, the first subgrant process of the Metro Denver WIRED Initiative. JumpStart supports collaborations among existing education, training, entrepreneurship, and other workforce or industry-specific career development partners that expand and/or replicate successful programs to serve the needs of the Metro Denver WIRED Initiative’s target industries. Of the 25 applications received through a Request for Proposal process, ten were funded to a total of $3.7 million.
Workforce Innovation Grant I
The WIRED Workforce Innovation Grant program seeks to address specific industry needs by funding innovative workforce development, training, entrepreneurship, and other industry-specific education and training partnership projects. Specifically, it focuses on employment or employee advancement in WIRED’s four target industry clusters. In March 2008, 10 projects were approved for funding in the first of two rounds of Workforce Innovation Grants for a total of just over $3 million.
Workforce Innovation Grant II
The goal behind the Workforce Innovation Grant II is similar to that of Workforce Innovation Grant I. The grants provide job training and related activities to assist workers (both unemployed and employed) in gaining skills and competencies needed to obtain or upgrade employment positions in high growth industries and economic sectors. The grants encompass new processes, partnership structures, and ideas for training or other workforce or industry-specific career development and education programs. An announcement of the recipients of Workforce Innovation Grant II is expected in fall 2008.