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News Advisory
United
States Representative
First District, Arkansas
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Drew Nannis
February 10, 2004 202-225-4076
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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