“Composites Kansas WIRED Initiative” – a project developed in part by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR), W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University – has been nominated for a national award.

The project, done in conjunction with the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas and Kansas WorkforceONE, is one of three finalists nominated for the University Economic Development Association’s (UEDA) Excellence in Workforce Development award.

The winner will be announced at the 2009 Awards of Excellence competition Oct. 11-13 in San Antonio. Debra Franklin, regional labor force analyst for the CEDBR, will make a presentation on the project during the event.

The project stems from a $5 million, 3-year U.S. Department of Labor Grant given to South Central Kansas, which is one of 39 Workforce Innovations in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) regions.

The goal, Franklin said, is to accelerate economic growth by fostering innovation and talent development that are critical to the aircraft and medical device industries, as well as other technology driven employers in the region.

Along with WSU, other collaborators involved with the project include regional educational/training institutions; elected officials/government; workforce boards; nonprofits; and business and industry.

“The partners have worked very well together,” Franklin said. “It’s very important and fulfilling for us to see this regionalization. We can do much more together than we can alone.”

Jeremy Hill, director of the CEDBR, said it’s nice to be recognized at a national level.

“UEDA is a great organization, and this is a big honor,” Hill said.