Demonstration and Implementation Investments - Round II

Southeastern Wisconsin WIRED Innovation Fund

Round II Demonstration and Implementation Investments

FACT SHEET

Available Funds

Up to $1 million is expected to be allocated for projects submitted in Round II. The Round II funding cycle will begin on September 10, 2008. Round II investments will be made at two levels: Demonstration & Implementation Levels:

Demonstration Investments will be funded in increments between $35,000 and $100,000. Demonstration investments are intended pilot talent development innovations and build on successful workforce solutions. Generally, concept plans developed from exploratory investments will be eligible for demonstration investments rather than implementation investments.

Implementation Investments will be available in awards up to $250,000 beginning in Round II. Implementation investments are generally designed to expand initiatives across traditional institutional and geographical boundaries, specifically at least two counties in the WIRED region.  Implementation investments should employ best practices and promising practices in workforce talent development innovations in Southeastern Wisconsin and bring them to scale. 

Timeline for Round II Investments

Partnership Requirements (29.5 KB) (29.5 KB)

Eligibility for funding is limited to partnerships which include at least two of the following entities:

·  Private Business,

·  Education & training providers (high schools, community colleges, technical schools, 4-year public and private higher education institutions, research universities, etc.),

·  Community-based non-profit organizations,

·  Economic Development Agencies, and

·  Any or all Workforce Development Boards in Southeastern Wisconsin:
  Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB),
  Southeast Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, and/or
  Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington (WOW) Workforce Development Board.

Partnerships must be active collaborations in which each partner has clear roles and responsibilities.  See (see Eligible Partnerships) (29.5 KB) (29.5 KB)

*NEW IN ROUND II*:Joint Planning with Area Workforce Development Board(s)

Prior to submitting a proposal, Round II applicants are strongly encouraged to conduct joint planning with local workforce development boards where activities are proposed to occur. Representatives of local workforce development boards make up the WIRED Initiative Leadership Team (82.8 KB) (82.8 KB) and are a valuable resource for understanding the landscape of services available and activities being funded in the region. In addition, workforce boards can refer applicants to potential partners or collaborators who may be involved in similar activities or serve similar target populations.

Round II applicants are strongly encouraged to receive the local workforce development board’s endorsement for the proposed project or activities and provide an attached letter of support.

Funding Priorities & Principles

Projects and activities funded through the WIRED Innovation Fund must reflect "RSTI" guiding principles (30.5 KB) (30.5 KB) :

R = regional; replicable

S = strategic; sustainable

T = transformational; targeted

I = industry-driven, innovative

The Southeastern Wisconsin WIRED Implementation Plan Goal Matrix (220.5 KB) (220.5 KB)outlines the Regional Workforce Alliance’s goals and strategies to prepare our region’s talent for the 21^st Century. Successful proposals must help to achieve one or more of the region’s WIRED strategies and/or activities.

Proposals will be evaluated and prioritized based on selection criteria outlined here (31 KB) (31 KB) . New in Round II, the RWA Steering Committee has placed a proportionately larger weight on the Innovation score to prioritize proposals that introduce a new idea, method, or process into workforce development strategies.

Preference will be given to projects and activities with higher levels of match (cash and in-kind) and leveraged resources (36 KB) (36 KB). Please refer directly to U.S. Department of Labor guidance (158.8 KB) (158.8 KB) regarding Match and Leveraged Resources and the following Flow Charts to guide your budget development:

Federal Flow Chart (11.5 KB) (11.5 KB) Non-Federal Flow Chart (12.5 KB) (12.5 KB)

Specific guidance for filling out the 3-page WIRED Round II Budget Template (85.5 KB) is available here (42.5 KB) .

Application Process

Applicants who intend to submit a Round II proposal will be required to submit a Letter of Intent by October 10, 2008. A Letter of Intent will serve as a simple notice that an application is forthcoming. It should include the project name and refer to the lead contact person. Letters of Intent can be transmitted by mail, fax, or e-mail to:

Susan Koehn, WIRED Innovation Fund Specialist

892 Main Street, Suite A

Pewaukee, WI  53072

Email: SKoehn@wctc.edu

Fax: 262.695.7890

Applicants will find the required Proposal Template here (102 KB) (102 KB) . Incomplete applications that fail to provide the required information in all fields will not be considered for Round II funding.

Proposals for Demonstration and Implementation Investments through Round II of the Innovation Fund are due by 4:30pm on November 3, 2008.  One Microsoft Word copy of the Proposal Template (on CD or by e-mail), and one complete PDF document including the Proposal Template and all letters of commitment, budget documents, and attachments* (on CD or by e-mail) must be submitted to:

Susan Koehn

WIRED Innovation Fund Specialist

892 Main Street, Suite A

Pewaukee, WI  53072

SKoehn@wctc.edu

*Letters of commitment, budget documents, and any additional attachments to a proposal must be provided in electronic format (.pdf) in order to be considered as supporting documents during proposal review.

Demonstration and Implementation Investment proposals that are received after 4:30pm on November 3, 2008 will not be considered for Round II funding.  Proposals that do not follow the required submission format (102 KB) (102 KB) and/or do not meet the technical requirements outlined in this document (36 KB) (36 KB) will not be considered for funding.

Contact for Q&A

Susan Koehn, WIRED Innovation Fund Specialist

892 Main Street, Suite A

Pewaukee, WI  53072

Email: SKoehn@wctc.edu

Phone: 262.695.7881; Fax: 262.695.7890

A Technical Assistance sessionis scheduled for September 23, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, Tommy G. Thompson Youth Center building.  Please register using the form here .