Investing in the Delta

Strong investment in the 252 counties and parishes served by the Delta Regional Authority and its partners over the past 18 years has helped to improve the quality of life and boost economic development opportunities for communities and residents alike. The DRA makes these investments through three established funding programs-States' Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP), Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) and the Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (PWEAA) program.

To apply for funding, visit funding.dra.gov.

The main investment tool used by the DRA is the States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP), and an additonal funding pathway, the Community Infrastructure Fund launched in 2016, supplements SEDAP with direct investment into community infrastructure needs and flood control. These investments directly support DRA’s funding priorities. 

Under federal law, at least 75 percent of DRA funds must be invested in economically distressed counties and parishes. Half of these funds are targeted to transportation and basic public infrastructure improvements. SEDAP funds projects in four categories: 

 

 

  1. Basic Public Infrastructure
  2. Transportation Infrastructure
  3. Business Development (with focus on Entrepreneurship)
  4. Workforce Development

Each state's investments into DRA generate incredible returns on investment. View our State Snapshots highlighting ROI on DRA's SEDAP investments.

For more information on SEDAP allocations, eligibility, and past projects, click here.

States’ Economic Development Assistance Program

Strategic investment in the 252 counties and parishes served by the Delta Regional Authority is helping to improve the quality of life and boost economic development opportunities. The main investment tool used by the Delta Regional Authority is the States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP), which provides direct investment into community-based and regional projects that address the DRA’s congressionally mandated four funding categories.

Under federal law, at least 75 percent of DRA funds must be invested in economically distressed counties and parishes. Half of these funds are targeted to transportation and basic public infrastructure improvements. The remaining funds are directed to DRA’s other funding priorities of workforce development and business development with a focus on entrepreneurship.

For more information about SEDAP, click here.

Download the SEDAP Administrative Program Manual here.

Community Infrastructure Fund

As a complement to the SEDAP investments, the DRA created the Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) to target physical infrastructure projects that help build safer, more resilient communities in the Delta region. With the addition of the CIF to DRA’s portfolio of funding opportunities, DRA will have increased flexibility to support states and communities as they address the unmet infrastructure needs in the region.  

CIF investments can be used for projects that address flood control, basic public infrastructure development, and transportation infrastructure improvements. The CIF application and notification cycles coincide directly with the SEDAP timeline.

 

 

Staying Accountable with DRA Investments

DRA is taking a proactive role in bringing accountability, compliance, and transparency to the project application process with an interactive application portal and updated data on project investments. Visit the funding portal at http://funding.dra.gov.

*Any persons wishing to report fraudulent activities should call DRA's fraud hotline: (662) 627-9641 ext. 118.

“It is the policy of the Authority that an awardee assisted under the DRAA shall carry out all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other federal laws prohibiting discrimination, including, but not unlimited to, Executive Order 13798 of May 4, 2017, promoting free speech and religious liberty, and in such a manner that no person shall, on the grounds of race, ethnicity, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, age, weight, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, and/or political affiliation be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination with respect to any such programs or activities. The awardee shall afford equality of opportunity in all their employment practices.  If an awardee fails to afford such equality of opportunity in all of their employment practices, this award may be terminated and proceedings initiated to debar the awardee from being eligible in the future to receive Federal grants, contracts or subsidies, at the discretion of the Authority.  Further, such action may include, but is not unlimited to, utilizing the risk mitigation provision set forth in 2 C.F.R. § 200.207 and the enforcement provision set forth in 2 C.F.R. § 200.338, as appropriate.  The awarded may not condition sub-awards of Federal grant money in a manner that would disadvantage grant applicants based on them being in any of the protected classes set forth above. The Authority is committed to the principles of equal opportunity and the elimination of all vestiges of discriminatory practices that might exist.”