News Advisory

MARION BERRY

United States Representative

First District, Arkansas

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CONTACT:  Drew Nannis

February 10, 2004                                                                                         202-225-4076

 

Berry Offers Information on How to Receive DRA Grants

 

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Marion Berry (D-AR, 1st) today announced how non- profits, counties and municipalities of Arkansas’ First Congressional District can apply for Delta Regional Authority (DRA) grants.

“As an original author of the DRA legislation, I encourage Arkansans to contact the DRA to see if help is available to them through a DRA grant,” Berry said. “The more informed Arkansans are about the DRA grant process, the more help they may find themselves eligible for. The more economic aid our region receives, the more likely the Delta will remain an agriculturally strong and community driven area.”

The pre-application submission period for DRA assistance began February 2 and will close April 21. To qualify for funding, applicants must complete a two-page, pre-application and a “424 Form.” Both the pre-application and the 424 Form comprise the “Uniform Pre-Application Package” which can be requested from any of the Local Development Districts (LDD) in Arkansas’ First Congressional District. Each LDD will also be holding public forums to educate, publicize and assist the funding program - those locations, and contact information, are below.

 

All DRA applications should be sent to the LDD’s first; not to deem eligibility, but to help applicants put together better, complete applications and to assist them through the grant process. The LDD's will then forward all applications to the Delta Regional Authority to establish eligibility. Once eligibility has been determined, the Governor's office will select the projects for funding and the Board of Governors and the Federal Co-Chairman will vote to accept or deny the applications by September 30, 2004.

 

The Delta Regional Authority, a federal-state partnership, was created by the U.S. Congress through the “Delta Regional Authority Act of 2000.” The Act serves a 240-county/parish area in an eight-state region (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee). The DRA’s mission is to “remedy severe and chronic economic distress by stimulating economic development while fostering partnerships that will have a positive impact on the Region’s economy.”

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DRA Grants

 

Residents are encouraged to visit www.dra.gov or call the DRA directly at 1-888-468-6372 x25 with any questions, or to download the Uniform Pre-Application Package, access the State's plan, and determine eligibility requirements.

 

Location Development Districts’ Public Forum Information:

 

For Randolph, Clay, Greene, Lawrence, Craighead, Mississippi, Crittenden, Lee, Phillips, Monroe, St. Francis, Cross, Poinsett Counties:

East Arkansas Planning and Development District is holding a public forum on

Feb. 17th at 11:00AM

2905 King Street

Jonesboro

(870) 932-3957

 

For Arkansas County:

Southeast Arkansas Planning and Development District is holding a public forum on

Feb. 20 at 10:00 AM

Star City Civics Center

201 Liberty Street

Star City

(870) 536-1971

 

For Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Sharp, Stone, Woodruff Counties: 

White River Planning and Development District is holding a public forum on

Feb. 24 at 10:00AM

1652 White Drive

Batesville

(870) 793-5233

 

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