Clarksdale, Miss. – The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has awarded more than $1.5 million to 13 communities across Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee in its first round of funding through the Strategic Planning Program, which provides communities within DRA’s eight-state service region with the necessary resources to develop strategies that maximize opportunities in public infrastructure, workforce development, and small business development and entrepreneurship.
“The Strategic Planning Program gives public entities across DRA’s footprint the ability to address long-standing challenges and to develop a course of action for economic growth and revitalization,” said Dr. Corey Wiggins, Federal Co-Chairman. “This investment will better position communities to build stronger foundations for future development and sustained infrastructure improvements.”
With grants ranging from $25,000 to $150,000, the Strategic Planning Program provides communities in the lower Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions with the necessary resources to develop roadmaps for economic development, such as comprehensive economic development plans, preliminary engineering reports, utility rate studies, feasibility studies, workforce development plans and broadband deployment plans.
First-Round 2025 Strategic Planning Program award recipients include:
ALABAMA
West AlabamaWorks was awarded $142,000 to develop a strategic plan that assesses its organizational capacity and refines existing workforce programs to better serve jobs seekers and employers across its five-county region, including Greene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens and Sumter.
Main Street Marion was awarded $148,000 to expand its redevelopment plan focused on workforce, small business and infrastructure improvements in Marion, Ala.
ARKANSAS
City of Osceola was awarded $100,000 for a feasibility study on building a fiber optic broadband network that will service the Osceola Municipal Light and Power utility service area to offer state-of-the-art connectivity for current residents and businesses and to attract new industries.
City of Dumas was awarded more than $117,000 to develop a business and workforce development plan that will serve as an economic revitalization roadmap for the city.
ILLINOIS
Akin Water District was awarded $149,000 to develop a strategic plan that assesses the condition of its aging water infrastructure and provides recommendations to modernize its water distribution system.
KENTUCKY
Lyon County Fiscal Court was awarded $150,000 to conduct a feasibility study on the regionalization of water and wastewater systems serving the county to improve service delivery, financial sustainability and economic growth.
LOUISIANA
Town of Haynesville was awarded more than $134,000 to create a strategic plan that develops a roadmap for improving public infrastructure and supporting a local workforce and business ecosystem.
City of Oakdale was awarded more than $148,000 to complete a comprehensive assessment of the city’s drainage system to encourage economic stability and improve overall quality of life.
MISSISSIPPI
City of Canton was awarded $145,000 to develop a transportation plan that improves infrastructure and fosters a more connected and livable community.
City of Port Gibson was awarded more than $90,000 to create a workforce and business development plan aligned with community revitalization.
MISSOURI
City of Potosi was awarded $80,000 to update a comprehensive plan, which will reflect the growth and changing needs and conditions of the community, guiding the physical development and long-term needs of Potosi over the next 20 years.
City of Kennett was awarded more than $56,000 to develop a comprehensive plan focused on job creation and infrastructure improvements critically needed to aid in chartering a plan for the city’s future.
TENNESSEE
Town of Stanton was awarded more than $129,000 to create a downtown revitalization master plan aimed at attracting new businesses.
DRA is currently accepting applications for the second round of the 2025 Strategic Planning Program. The application deadline is Friday, Aug. 1. To learn more about the Strategic Planning Program or to apply, visit www.dra.gov.
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