Governor Gregoire Congratulates Pacific Mountain Alliance for Innovation on $5 Million Grant to Build Regional Economy

For Immediate Release: June 22, 2007

OLYMPIA - Governor Chris Gregoire today congratulated the Pacific Mountain Alliance for Innovation on being named a Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development region by the U.S. Department of Labor. The alliance, a consortium of economic development, education, business and labor leaders in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties, will receive $5 million over three years to support and build their regional economy. The Pacific Mountain proposal was chosen on a competitive basis from proposals submitted by Governors around the country.

�This grant is terrific confirmation of the region's efforts around sustainable energy and high skilled jobs,� said Governor Gregoire. �I was pleased to support this effort and I congratulate everyone involved on their success.�

The alliance will work to transform the workforce and economies in the five counties through industry-driven goals:

1. Create a flexible technologically perceptive workforce;
2. Promote innovation and entrepreneurship;
3. Create an Enterprise Network that will support the growth of regional economies; and
4. Leverage the resources of the Alliance and promote regional identity.

�We expect that this grant will forge a new way of doing business within our region,� said Mike Kennedy, Executive Director of the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, sponsor of the regional alliance. �It will allow the region to implement a number of innovative initiatives through the collaborative efforts of business, labor, education and economic and workforce development professionals. Industry will drive our problem-solving processes to ensure that we are meeting businesses� needs.�

The successful grant application is the result of a broad partnership, including the PacMountain Workforce Development Council; the Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board; the Washington Employment Security Department; Centralia, South Sound and Grays Harbor Community Colleges; the Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development; the WSU Energy Program and IBEW 77.

The U.S. Department of Labor�s WIRED initiative brings together state, local and federal entities; academic institutions (including K-12, community colleges and universities), investment groups, foundations and business to address the challenges associated with building a globally competitive and prepared workforce.

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