Home > State Grant Funding
As a key part of its effort to improve the lives of Delta residents, the DRA operates a grant program in the eight states it serves.
The DRA works closely with local development districts, which provide technical assistance to grant applicants.
"The development districts are our troops on the ground," says Pete Johnson, the DRA federal co-chairman. "They are responsible for making sure we receive quality applications from across the region."
Once grant applications are submitted each year, the federal co-chairman determines which applications are eligible for funding and which are ineligible. There is an appeals process for those applicants whose submissions are deemed ineligible.
From the list of eligible applicants, the governors of the eight states then make recommendations to the full board. The board decides which projects are funded based on the funds available.
Congress has mandated that transportation and basic public infrastructure projects must receive at least 50 percent of appropriated funds. The authority may provide matching funds for other state and federal programs.
Areas of emphasis for funding are:
- Basic public infrastructure in distressed counties.
- Transportation infrastructure for the purpose of facilitating economic development.
- Business development with an emphasis on entrepreneurship.
- Job training with an emphasis on using existing public education institutions.
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