Regional Innovation Grants

Regional Innovation Grants are awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor to state workforce agencies and Workforce Investment Boards.

 The grants are used to develop a comprehensive, integrated, strategic regional plan that will shorten or eliminate the time from worker layoffs to reemployment and, ultimately, support regional economic growth and competitiveness and workers' employment and advancement.

Two regions in Minnesota are partners in grants of $250,000 each to develop and launch regional Web sites. Select this link to view a map that shows the regions benefitting from the innovation grants.

The Northland Works provides information on job opportunities, career information and more in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin

The Web site features job listings and other information for job seekers, information for employers, career information and education planning, as well as sections that promote the region and its significant  industries.

The Seven Rivers Alliance is a regional leadership group that boosts economic growth by fostering collaboration in western Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, and northeast Iowa. 

The alliance brings together public and private resources in the Upper Mississippi Valley to forge entrepreneurial growth, and serves as a clearinghouse of vital information to enhance quality of life in the region. 

The Web site is a portal that features information on everything from the region's agriculture, alternative energy and manufacturing industries to economic development, education development and workforce development data.