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Delta Regional Authority Recognizes 2024 Leadership Class with Graduation Ceremony
DRA is proud to recognize 29 new graduates of its Delta Leadership Institute (DLI) Executive Academy — an extensive leadership development program that brings together public, private and nonprofit sector leaders from the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions.
Representing the 2024 DLI Executive Academy Class, graduates hail from various cities and towns within DRA’s eight-state service region, including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. The leadership class was selected through a competitive application process led by DRA’s board of governors and federal co-chairman to complete the annual nine-month program designed to empower a corps of servant leaders with the tools, experiences and networks to address local and regional economic development challenges.
To read the full story and to view the list of graduates, click here.
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Biden-Harris Administration Awards Over $500,000 in Funding to Address Infrastructure Needs
DRA has awarded more than $500,000 to four communities across Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee in its fifth round of funding through the Strategic Planning Program. Funding for this program is made available by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden — a key part of his Investing in America agenda to rebuild the economy from the bottom up and the middle out.
This sixth round of funding is DRA’s final funding award for the 2024 fiscal year. During 2024, DRA invested more than $2.3 million, in a total of 19 projects, through the Strategic Planning Program.
To read the full story and to view the list of award recipients, click here.
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America’s Regional Commissions: Sharing Best Practices in Regional and Economic Development
On Sept. 18, DRA Federal Co-Chairman, Dr. Corey Wiggins, alongside leaders from other regional commissions across the United States, joined the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to give testimony on how the nation’s five regional commissions play an integral role in strengthening communities, workforce and infrastructure.
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Funding Availability for Delta Workforce Program
The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has announced funding availability for the Delta Workforce Grant Program (DWP), an initiative supporting workforce training and education programs throughout the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions. Funding for this program is made available, in part, by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden — a key part of his Investing in America agenda.
Approximately $4 million has been made available for FY 2025 to address the employment and training needs of the local and regional workforce within the DRA eight-state service region, created in collaboration with community partners and aligned with existing economic and workforce development plans and strategies. Individual grants will range between $50,000 to $300,000 for each project awarded. The funding cycle opened Friday, Sept. 20, and the deadline to apply is Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.
To read the full story, click here.
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DRA will be hosting a Pre-Award Technical Assistance Workshop for individuals interested in learning about the 2025 Delta Workforce Grant Program funding opportunity. For more information about the workshop and why you should attend, click here.
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Investing in the Delta | Little Rock Port Authority
Check out our newest video of Investing in the Delta! Hear from our grantees at the Little Rock Port Authority as Executive Director Bryan Day discusses how two investments directed toward the port created a tremendous economic impact, reaching far beyond the industrial park into the Arkansas Delta and Central Arkansas.
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DRA and HRSA Host Workshop and Meetings Focused on Health and Grants
DRA, in collaboration with the Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs – Regions 6 and 7, hosted two meetings and a workshop in Sikeston, Missouri, on Sept. 10-11.
DRA staff gave insight into the agency’s health, workforce and critical infrastructure programs, covering topics such as federal and regional funding opportunities, grant application processes, and tips for crafting a strong application.
Thank you to all of our attendees who participated in these events to gain valuable information on how to improve our communities within the Delta region.
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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 Pre-Award Technical Assistance Workshop – Oct. 24
- 2025 Delta Workforce Grant Program Application Deadline – Dec. 20
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