Clarksdale, MS – The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has awarded more than $4.1 million in investments to five projects in Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee through its Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF). Funding for this program was made available, in part, by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden — a key part of his Investing in America agenda to grow local economies from the middle out and bottom up and to create more resilient and healthier communities across the country.
These five new investment projects will improve basic public infrastructure in communities across DRA’s region in Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. Together, these projects are estimated to affect nearly 1,200 families and businesses.
“The Community Infrastructure Fund is one of DRA’s most unique tools that allows us to expand and invest in the resiliency of the region’s public infrastructure,” said Dr. Corey Wiggins, DRA Federal Co-Chairman. “As a result of this investment, approximately 1,187 families will have improved access to infrastructure, helping to improve their quality of life and increase economic opportunities in their communities.”
The purpose of the CIF program is to address unmet basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, and flood control needs to help build safer, more resilient communities in the Delta region.
Today’s CIF award recipients include:
Illinois
The City of Sesser was awarded more than $570,000 to update a 60-year-old vitrified clay sanitary sewer main with new PVC pipes to provide for more reliable sewer services.
Louisiana
The Plaquemines Parish Government was awarded nearly $710,000 to construct a new lift station, in Empire, La., to improve the wastewater system for both residents and businesses, ensuring proper drainage and sewer capacity for a growing population.
Mississippi
The Town of Georgetown was awarded more than $870,000 to construct a state-of-the-art pumping station that will allow for a new path to discharge treated wastewater to regain compliance with state standards.
The Town of Sidon was awarded more than $760,000 to upgrade the community’s water infrastructure to improve operational efficiency and to promote water conservation, ultimately alleviating financial burdens on households, enhancing service delivery and contributing to the long-term resilience of Sidon.
Tennessee
The Town of Mason was awarded more than $1.2 million to make immediate improvements to its water treatment plant to provide for a reliable, functioning water system needed for residential safety and well-being and for business retention and growth.
Applications for CIF are accepted on a rolling basis. Additional information about CIF is available at Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) – Delta Regional Authority (dra.gov).
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