Exploratory Investments will stimulate the development and application of new ideas in talent development.  These smaller investments, between $5,000 and $35,000, will allow stakeholders to develop clear blueprints for new approaches and to create a proof of concept or business plan. Exploratory investments will be accepted on an on-going basis beginning April 28, 2008. Eligible applicants must submit a “Letter of Interest” as described below.

Eligible Applicants and Partnership Requirements

There is a partnership requirement for all proposals. Applicant partnerships should span across geographical and institutional boundaries. Eligibility 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.

The applicant organization must identify partnerships where each participating organization has substantial responsibilities within the project.  Partnerships must be active collaborations in which each partner has clear roles and responsibilities.  Nominal partnerships, without demonstrable collaborative activity among organizations, are not acceptable. 

Examples of contributions by industry partners include:

·  Tuition Reimbursement,

·  Training Facilities, Equipment, and/or Materials,

·  Internships,

·  Mentors,

·  Time off for Training,

·  Instructors,

·  On-the-Job Training, and/or

·  Entry-level Job Opportunities.

Other partners may provide any combination of the following services:

·  Recruitment & Referral Services,

·  Case Management Services,

·  Training Services,

·  Job Placement & Retention Services,

·  Other services agreed upon by partners.

Proposals must include letters of commitment from partners that specifically describe partner roles and responsibilities; these are not traditional letters of support that simply convey tacit approval. 

Fiscal Agent Partner

The fiscal agent must be identified in the exploratory investment letter of interest. One of the partners must serve as the fiscal agent responsible for contracting, reporting reimbursable expenses, administrative reporting, and outcome reporting for the grant.  The fiscal agent must have established legal standing as a corporation or a 501(c)3 and must also be able to demonstrate a history of grant management or similar financial management/administrative experiences and capacity.

Source of Funds, Allowable Uses of Funds, and General Administrative / Fiscal Requirements (36 KB) (36 KB)

The primary source of funding for US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration’s WIRED initiative, and thus Southeastern Wisconsin WIRED Innovation Fund, is revenue collected under 8 USC 1356(s)(2), commonly referred to as H-1B funds.  Use of these funds is limited to two activity categories; specifically, WIRED funds may be used for: 

·  Employment Training – 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.

·  Capacity Building – Assist in the development and implementation of model activities (such as develop curricula to build core competencies and train workers, identify and disseminate career and skill information, and increase the integration of community and technical college activities with activities of business and the public workforce investment system).

All efforts supported with WIRED funds must target individuals at least 16 years of age or older.  In addition, the Innovation Fund will not fund fixed assets, such as buildings, property and infrastructure, marketing or advertising.  Investments can not provide direct payments to learners or business.  Lastly, investments will not be made to projects that have weak prospects for replication and expansion. 

The U.S. Department of Labor (20CFR667.200) requires that recipients of H-1B funds follow OMB Circulars that define procurement requirements, eligible expenses, and other administrative and audit compliance regulations. It is the grantee’s responsibility to comply with all applicable requirements found here (26 KB) (26 KB)

WIRED Funding Priorities & Principles

Projects and activities funded through the WIRED Innovation Fund must reflect the following “RSTI” guiding principles:

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 goals and strategies for a new way to prepare our region’s talent for the 21^st Century.  The $2.5 million Innovation Fund is intended to facilitate the implementation of WIRED goals and strategies.  Successful letters of interest for exploratory investments must help to achieve one or more of the region’s WIRED strategies and/or activities.

WIRED will give preference to projects and activities with higher levels of cash match, in-kind match, and leveraged resources (36 KB) (36 KB) .

Exploratory Investment Letters of Interest

To be considered for exploratory investment, applicants must submit a three to five page “Letter of Interest” to the WIRED Coordinator beginning April 28, 2008. (Attachments will not be counted against the five-page limit). Letters of Interest must:

1.     Provide lead contact information,

2.     Describe the opportunity and need,

3.     Describe the workforce innovation concept and provide a planning timeline,

4.     Describe the proposed partnership,

5.     Clearly articulate anticipated outcomes and potential impact on region,

6.     Provide a statement about how the innovation concept relates to WIRED funding priorities and principles (RSTI and the WIRED goal matrix).

7.     Budget for concept plan development – applicants must use the template provided here (87 KB) (87 KB)

8.     Letter(s) of Support.

Letters of Interest for exploratory investments from the Innovation Fund may be submitted to the attention of WIRED Innovation Fund Specialist, either electronically to SKoehn@wctc.edu, by fax to 262.695.7890, by mail, or in-person to:

Susan Koehn

WIRED Innovation Fund Specialist

c/o WOW Workforce Development Inc.

892 Main Street, Suite A

Pewaukee, WI  53072

Letters of Interest will be reviewed on an on-going basis.  Contracts for exploratory investments will be no longer than 6 months, since these smaller investments are intended to encourage the rapid deployment and testing of new ideas.

Awards

Innovation Fund investment decisions will be made by economic, education, and workforce development partners working in conjunction with one another through the Regional Workforce Alliance (RWA) network (82.8 KB) (82.8 KB) . In particular, the RWA Steering Committee will make final funding decisions for Exploratory Investments through the region’s Innovation Fund. The WIRED Coordinator will inform applicants about whether or not their workforce innovation concept has been approved to receive funding through the Innovation Fund.

Contact for Q&A

Susan Koehn

WIRED Innovation Fund Specialist

c/o WOW Workforce Development Inc.

892 Main Street, Suite A

Pewaukee, WI  53072

Email: skoehn@wctc.edu

Phone: 262.695.7881

Fax: 262.695.7890