Last Updated January 14, 2005
Delta Regional Authority (DRA)
Alleviating severe and chronic economic distress by stimulating economic development and fostering partnerships to improve a 240-county/parish area in an eight-state region of the Delta
Created in 2001 and led by Federal Co-Chairman Patrick H. (Pete) Johnson and the governors of each participating state, the Delta Regional Authority serves 240 counties and parishes within the Delta areas of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.
DRA strives to help economically distressed communities leverage other federal and state programs that are focused on basic infrastructure development, transportation improvements, business development, and job training services. Under federal law, at least 75 percent of funds must be invested in distressed counties and parishes and pockets of poverty, with 50 percent of the funds earmarked for transportation and basic infrastructure improvements.
Project Examples
Some examples of projects funded include:
- The Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission will use a $200,000 grant from DRA to expand the commission's loan capacity under its revolving loan fund.
- Houston, TX, has been awarded a $211,750 grant from the Delta Regional Authority to provide funding to build right and left turning lanes from Missouri Highway 17 into the Houston Industrial Park. Funds will be also used to extend hard surfaced access roads to serve three new industries in the industrial park.
- Fredericktown, MO, will use a $200,000 grant to upgrade the electrical transmission and substation facilities in a heavy industrial and commercial area.
Information Available
Through the DRA website, people may subscribe
to an electronic project newsletter and a separate electronic newsletter
that lists grant
opportunities across the United States. Webcasts
are also held regularly by DRA on a host of topics
related to community development.
Application and Financial Information
Application for DRA grants is to be made
through the offices of governors in each of the
eight states being served by the project.
Of the $25,563,711 requested by applicants in the 2002 grant cycle, $3,950,868 was awarded. The second largest category funded was transportation infrastructure. Business development proposals ranked third, and those for workforce training received the least amount of available assistance.
Eligibility, Uses, and Restrictions
Eligible applicants include state agencies,
cities, counties, and nonprofit organizations that
will provide services to people in the 240 counties
and parishes in the Delta areas of Alabama,
Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.
Applications must clearly focus on improving life for people of these counties and parishes in the areas of transportation, public or basic infrastructure, economic or business development, and employment and educational training programs.
Contact
Headquarters
Delta Regional Authority
236 Sharkey Avenue, Suite 400
Clarksdale, MS 38614
Phone: (888) GO TO DRA (468-6372)
Voice mail: (662) 624-8600; Fax: (662) 624-8537
Internet
www.dra.gov
