Delta Regional Authority

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is a Federal-State partnership whose mission it is to improve the quality of life for the residents of the Mississippi River Delta Region. The Delta Regional Authority serves 252 counties and parishes in parts of eight states: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Led by a Federal Co-Chairman appointed by the President and the governors of the eight states, the DRA fosters partnerships throughout the region as it works to improve the Delta economy. DRA funds can be used to leverage other federal and state programs.

Under federal law, at least 75 percent of DRA funds must be invested in economically distressed counties and parishes. Half of DRA funds are awarded for transportation and basic infrastructure improvements.

1 About DRA
2 Mission
3 Outcomes
4 Impact
5 Partnerships
6 DRA Programs and Initiatives
7 DRA Service Area
8 External Links
9 References

About DRA

In 2000, Congress established the Delta Regional Authority to enhance economic development and improve the quality of life for the residents of the Mississippi River Delta region.

The Delta Regional Authority is a regional economic development agency serving 252 counties and parishes in the following eight states:

The DRA is led by two presidential appointees, Federal Co-Chairman (FCC) and Alternate Federal Co-Chairman (AFCC), along with a State Co-Chairman and the governor of each participating state, the Delta Regional Authority is designed to remedy severe and chronic economic distress by stimulating economic development and fostering partnerships that will have a positive impact on the region’s economy.

Mission

The Delta Regional Authority helps economically distressed communities to leverage other federal and state programs in the four Congressionally mandated priority funding categories:

Basic public infrastructure in distressed counties and isolated areas of distress;
Transportation infrastructure for the purpose of facilitating economic development in the region;
Business development, with emphasis on entrepreneurship; and
Workforce development or employment-related education, with emphasis on use of existing public educational institutions located in the region.

Outcomes

Since the inception of the DRA Federal Funding Program, the following projected outcomes have been documented:

18,146 jobs have been created;
15,742 jobs have been retained;
58,133 families have received improved water and sewer; and
6,702 individuals have been trained for jobs.

Impact

DRA has contributed $86,170,823 to 610 projects in its eight-state region for total project costs of $517,443,490.

DRA total project cost includes an additional leverage of $431,272,667 in other federal, state and local funds, which is a ratio of 5.00 to 1.

In addition, private funds invested in these projects total $1,394,057,574, which is a ratio of 16.18 to 1, private dollars to DRA dollars.
Total leveraged investment of $1,911,501,064 including federal, state, local and private funds produced a ratio of 22.18 to 1.

Partnerships

At the local level, the Delta Regional Authority coordinates efforts with a combination of agencies. Assisting the Delta Regional Authority are local development districts (“LDDs”), regional entities with a proven track record of helping municipalities, counties and parishes improve basic infrastructure and stimulate growth.

DRA partners with USDA's Rural Development (RDA) Program. Through their network of state and local offices, the RDA assists the Delta Regional Authority with the Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) program. DRA also partnered with the Economic Development Association (EDA) by conducting community evaluations related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Additionally, the Delta Regional Authority works with each member state’s Department of Economic Development, local development districts, Departments of Transportation, governor’s offices, Department of Health, Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, congressional offices and city and county government.^[1]

DRA Programs and Initiatives

The Delta Regional Authority is involved in numerous efforts to improve the lives of the people it serves. The following programs are currently under operation throughout the Authority's region:^[2]