Writing about food does not completely pay the bills at my house, so like many writers, I hold down a day job. Fortunately, I have a great day job with Purdue University that I find rewarding and enjoyable. Earlier this year, I was able to help bring to the great state of Indiana, a federal grant for $15 million to help address some economic development and workforce needs in the north central part of our state. The photo in the upper-right hand corner of this entry was taken of U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and me when I visited Washington, D.C. a few weeks ago.
The initiative is called Workforce Innovations in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) and if you have any interest, at all, you can read about it here. In Indiana, this initiative will have some tie-in to food. Our project will have a an entrepreneurship component and I hope we will be able to assist food entrepreneurs to start and expand their businesses. It also has a component that focuses on helping to grow the agribusiness/food processing/food technology sector of the region.
In the type of work I do, helping to bring in a $15 million grant is a big deal, maybe a once-in-a-career kind of big deal. So for me, it is a milestone to have been involved. It will also mean more travel for me both in Indiana and across the U.S. which will provide new food experiences about which to write. Stay tuned!
Congradulations on your achievement of acquiring the grant. Very impressive. Keeping good company also.
Frank
Posted by: Frank | 04/14/2006 at 07:07 PM
Wow! That is huge!
Posted by: Nora | 04/14/2006 at 09:39 PM