NORTH AMERICAN REPORTS

   Work force quality is job No. 1 when it comes to boosting regional competitiveness — no matter who’s counting.

   Dozens of economic development agencies and their state counterparts are celebrating their shares of 13 regional work force grants of $15 million each announced on Feb. 1 by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao as part of the Competitiveness Agenda announced by President Bush in his State of the Union Address. The federal Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development initiative (WIRED) is geared toward long-term strategic plans for work force improvement. “By bringing together all the key players including research universities, venture capital firms and traditional organizations of economic and work force development, regions can optimize their ability to innovate,” said Asst. Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco.

   Meanwhile, an overlay of various rankings shows what some states have already achieved in their efforts to be competitive. The Beacon Hill Institute rankings look at 42 variables in eight categories that support high per capita income. The Site Selection and Chief Executive rankings evaluate operational climate and per capita project, jobs and corporate investment dolar figures, among other criteria, in their annual lists. — Adam Bruns