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Biden-Harris Administration Invests Over $25 Million in 25 Projects Across Lower Mississippi Delta and Alabama Black Belt Regions
DRA has announced an investment of more than $25 million toward 25 projects through its Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF). These projects span seven states within DRA’s eight-service region, including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri and Mississippi. 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.
Designed to address unmet needs in public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure and flood control, these CIF-award projects will help strengthen the economic vitality of the DRA region by building safer, more resilient communities. Together, these 25 projects are estimated to create or retain more than 1,100 jobs and impact more than 75,000 families across 25 communities.
To read the full story and to view the list of CIF recipients, click here.
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DRA Announces 2024 SEDAP Recipients
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DRA has announced the recipients of its States’ Economic Development Assistance Program — one of the agency’s main investment tools for supporting basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, business development and workforce development in its eight-state service region.
To view the amounts awarded to each state and its recipients, click on each picture to read the full story.
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Investing in the Delta | West Monroe, LA
Check out our newest video of Investing in the Delta! Hear from Mayor Staci Albritton Mitchell, of West Monroe, Louisiana, as she expresses deep gratitude for a million-dollar investment from DRA to install critical drainage infrastructure, which has greatly benefitted existing businesses and attracted new businesses to the city over the course of six years.
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DRA Holds In-person Training for WARC Staff
On Oct. 29, DRA critical infrastructure manager, Darci Malam, held an in-person training for the staff at the West Alabama Regional Commission (WARC) in Northport, Alabama.
During the training, Malam provided staff members with information on applying for critical infrastructure awards and administering awarded projects. Thank you to the WARC staff for hosting us and partnering with us to improve our communities in the Delta region.
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DRA Hosts Workforce Workshop in Memphis
More than 150 people attended the 2025 Delta Workforce Grant Program (DWP) Pre-Award Technical Assistance Workshop, hosted by DRA, on Oct. 24.
The objectives of the workshop included providing attendees with a comprehensive overview of the DWP and how to develop a competitive application; providing examples of successful workforce training programs from previous DWP awardees; and providing information on how to build an effective workforce development program.
The workshop was a huge success and demonstrated the importance our partners place on creating a more vibrant economic future for our DRA region.
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HUD Exchange: DCTA Program Resources
HUD’s Distressed Cities Technical Assistance (DCTA) program maintains a library of resources relevant to DCTA recipients and smaller distressed communities. It features a wide range of reports, webinars, guidance, and funding opportunities useful to small governments, tribal organizations and nonprofits.
Click the following link for information about upcoming funding opportunities, trainings and events, and other DCTA-related resources: DCTA Resources page.
Local governments can request in-depth technical assistance tailored to their specific needs via this form available through the DCTA webpage on HUDUser.gov.
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Delta Workforce Grant Program
Approximately $4 million in funding is available through DRA’s Delta Workforce Grant Program (DWP), an initiative designed to nurture local workforce ecosystems and to increase economic competitiveness by providing grants to support workforce training and education programs throughout the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions. For more information on how to apply, visit Delta Workforce Grant Program – Delta Regional Authority (dra.gov). 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.
Applications Due: Dec. 20, 2024
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Upcoming Events and Opportunities
- 2025 Delta Workforce Grant Program Virtual Pre-Award Technical Assistance Workshop – Nov. 19
- 2025 Delta Workforce Grant Program Application Deadline – Dec. 20
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DRA in the News
- Local cities, agencies receiving portion of $25 million investment, WSILTV
- Area towns receive DRA grants, Paragould Press
- Delta Regional Authority invests nearly $2 million in Kentucky projects, Herald-Ledger
- Groundbreaking held for water and wastewater facility in Pearl, WJTV
- Four Area Projects Receive DRA Public Infrastructure Funding, WDML-FM
- NWAEED awarded for readiness training project, Harrison Daily Times
- South Arkansas College receives a grant from Delta Regional Authority, KTVE-KARD
- UACCB and Newport awarded DRA funding for transportation projects, White River Now
- AMMC to receive MRI machine, with DRA grant, Paragould Press
- Sen. Cassidy announces $1.7M in infrastructure funding for Northeast Louisiana, KNOE-TV
- Carter County to Receive DRA Funding, The Acadiana Advocate
- Congressman Cohen Announces $509,000 Grant to AgLaunch, Congressman Steve Cohen
- Ochsner Health and Next Op celebrate veteran workforce milestone, Ochsner Health
- 3 Southern Ill. projects receive $1.5M through economic development assistance program, KFVS-TV
- Union City airport to receive federal funding, West Kentucky Star
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