January 2023 Newsletter

January 30, 2023

DRA Newsletter – January 2023

January 2023 Newsletter

Happy New Year from Delta Regional Authority! DRA is off to a productive 2023, and below are just a few exciting events from DRA this month.

Delta Workforce Grant Program: Application Deadline March 14th

DRA is still accepting applications for the 2023 Delta Workforce Grant Program (DWP). Due to inclement weather, the pre-award technical assistance workshop in Memphis, TN on February 2nd will now be a virtual event. DRA will be hosting a second, in-person workshop in Memphis on February 16th and will also make available office hours for more assistance. Information is forthcoming, so please stay tuned to DRA news and announcements.

USDA State Rural Directors Meeting

Chairman Wiggins joined USDA – Rural Development for the Southern Region State Rural Director’s Meeting on January 10th in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Wiggins spoke to DRA’s programs, upcoming events, and how DRA can help our rural communities.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration

Chairman Wiggins joined Monroe, LA Mayor Friday Ellis at the city’s 44th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Salute.

Delta Leadership Institute 2023 Executive Academy Orientation

Delta Leadership Institute (DLI) convened in Selma, Alabama to kick off the 2023 Executive Academy. DRA welcomed for orientation the 38 fellows selected to participate in this year’s executive leadership training program. Fellows heard from Selma Mayor James Perkins, Jr. about how he is leading his city following January’s devastating tornado, and they also participated in cleanup efforts.

BlueOval City Project

Chairman Wiggins and DRA staff met with local, regional, and state Tennessee stakeholders to discuss infrastructure investments surrounding the BlueOval City project, which is expected to bring more that 5,800 jobs to West Tennessee by 2025. This supports the DRA mission of job creation, recruitment, workforce development, and economic development.

Orphan Well Project

DRA met in Louisiana with LA state officials and officials from the Department of Interior, Department of Labor, and the White House infrastructure team to participate in roundtable discussions regarding orphan wells in the DRA region. This interagency project will help remediate and clean up these sites and will be supported by funds from the Bipartisan Infrastruture Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, PL 117-58). Participation in the Orphan Well Project demonstrates DRA’s commitment to the Biden Justice40 Initiative.

Regional Development Plan IV

DRA is on-tract to complete the Regional Development Plan IV (RDP IV) as outlined in our statutory language to meet this congressional obligation. The RDP IV is the Authority’s five-year strategic plan which will demonstrate our commitment to make equitable investments in infrastructure throughout the Delta region.

DRA Board Meeting with Designees and Alternates

Delta Regional Authority will hold a Board Meeting with Designees and Alternates on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 from 9:00 – 10:30 AM ET.

Location: Marriot Marquis
- 901 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20002
Virtual Access:
- Please click the link below to join the webinar:
- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82341406495?pwd=YmhIVjdWVUlpcUxkRVhOaDNFM09hUT09
- Passcode: 38614

February 2023 Preview

Be on the lookout for:

Delta Workforce Grant Program pre-award technical assistance workshop and office hours
Information on the new Strategic Planning Grants Program
Information on the new LDD Pilot Program
Recap of the DRA Board of Governors’ Annual Quorum Meeting
Regional Development Plan IV release
And much more!

Our mailing address is:

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

Delta Regional Authority

About DRA

Board Members

DRA States

Critical Infrastructure

Capacity-Building

Human Infrastructure

Health Programs

Leadership

Workforce

Resources

January 2023 Newsletter

Delta Regional Authority

Quick Links

Contact Us