Currently known as the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED), WIRED is a unique approach to workforce and economic development funded by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA). The WIRED Initiative, launched in November 2005, stresses the critical role talent development plays in creating effective regional economic development strategies. Talent development is often also referred to as "human capital development." These terms emphasize that people with appropriate education and training make a key difference to economic growth.

WIRED goes beyond traditional strategies for worker preparation by bringing together state, local and federal entities; academic institutions (including K-12, community colleges, and universities); investment groups; foundations; and business and industry to address the challenges associated with building a globally competitive and prepared workforce.

In February 2006, following a Solicitation for Grant Applications, DOLETA announced 13 regions that comprise the WIRED 1st Generation. First Generation WIRED regions were awarded $15 million over three years to revitalize their local economy.

In April 2006, DOLETA expanded to 13 additional regions, then known as the Virtual Regions. North Jersey Partners is one of the 13 regions that received a $100,000 planning grant. North Jersey Partners was also invited to participate in all WIRED related activities and was given access to the tools and resources developed.

In January 2007, these 13 regions became the WIRED 2nd Generation and each received an immediate investment of $500,000. Based upon the successful completion of an implementation plan, these regions then received an additional $4.5 million investment over a three-year period. North Jersey Partners was among this group that received a total of $5.1 million.

The WIRED Initiative continued to move forward; on June 20, 2007, DOLETA announced the expansion of the WIRED Initiative. Thirteen more applications were selected to become the WIRED 3rd Generation regions. Each received a $5 million investment over a three-year period.

The North Jersey Partners WIRED grant is supported by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and is being implemented by the Newark Alliance. The North Jersey Partners' region covers eight counties in northern New Jersey including: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union, and Warren.

The North Jersey Partners WIRED Initiative, based on intensive demographic and labor data analysis, focuses on four key industry clusters that have the potential to make the greatest positive economic impact in the region. Those market sectors are:

• Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution (TLD)
• Healthcare and Life Sciences
• Entertainment, Arts, and Retail (EAR)
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business