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WIRED for performance
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One effort to upgrade the education and abilities of Indiana's employees includes an emphasis on mature workers. A project known as "WIRED"—Workforce Innovations in Regional Economic Development—is coordinating creative workforce training initiatives in 14 north central Indiana counties.
Under the direction of Purdue's Center for Regional Development (PCRD), WIRED's goal is to transform the region into a "high-performance production economy."
"One approach is to look at the role of older workers," says Ed Morrison, economic policy advisor for PCRD. Older employees are responsible and experienced, but may not have the skills of younger co-workers. "We're helping companies plan with regard to their aging workforce and assisting them in updating worker skills."
WIRED coordinator Mark Smith calls this an emphasis on lifelong learning.
The WIRED area stretches from Wabash County to the Illinois border and includes Rochester, Logansport, Kokomo and Lafayette. Other WIRED projects relate to entrepreneurship, advanced manufacturing and leadership development.
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