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Delta Regional Development
Led by a Federal Co-Chairman and the governors of each participating state, the DRA is designed to remedy severe and chronic economic distress by stimulating economic development
Help economically distressed communities to leverage other federal and state programs which are focused on basic infrastructure development, transportation improvements, business development, and job training services.
Program Accomplishments
Not applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
In considering programs and projects to be provided assistance under the Act, and in establishing a priority of the requests for assistance provided by the Authority, the Authority shall follow procedures to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, consideration of the following: (1) the relationship of the project or class of projects to overall regional development; (2) the per capita income and poverty and unemployment rates in an area; (3) the financial resources available to the applicants for assistance seeking to carry out the project, with emphasis on ensuring that projects are adequately financed to maximize the probability of successful economic development; (4) the importance of the project or class of projects in relation to other projects or classes of projects that may be in competition for the same funds; (5) the prospects that the project for which assistance is sought will improve, on a continuing rather than temporary basis, the opportunities for employment, the average level of income, or the economic development of the area served by the project; and (6) the extent to which the project design provides for detailed outcome measurements by which grant expenditures and the result of the expenditures may be evaluated.
Each State is required to file a State Delta development plan, appraising prospects for development in its Delta area and relating to them a strategic program for which Delta funding is requested in that year.
Once an application is submitted for individual projects and given final approval the grant is administered either by the Federal agency involved in that type of program, a local development district, or directly by DRA.
The counties (including any political subdivision located within such area) in which investment under the Delta Act can be made are: Alabama, the counties of Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Russell, Sumter, Washington, Wilcox; in Arkansas the counties of Arkansas, Ashley, Baxter, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clay, Cleveland, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Marion, Mississippi, Monroe, Ouachita, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, St.
Francis, Stone, Union, Van Buren, White, Woodruff; in Illinois the counties of Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Union, White, Williamson; in Kentucky the counties of Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McLean, Muhlenberg, Todd, Trigg, Union, Webster; in Louisiana the counties of Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, Jackson, Jefferson, La Salle, Lafourche, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Richland, St.
Bernard, St.
Charles, St.
Helena, St.
James, St.
John The Baptist, St.
Landry, St.
Martin, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Union, Washington, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll, West Feliciana, Winn; in Missouri the counties of Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Dunkin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, St.
Francois, Ste.
Genevieve, Stoddard, Texas, Washington, Wayne, Wright; in Mississippi the counties of Adams, Amite, Attala, Benton, Bolivar, Carroll, Claiborne, Coahoma, Copiah, Covington, De Soto, Franklin, Grenada, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lawrence, Leflore, Lincoln, Madison,Marion, Marshall, Montgomery, Panola, Pike, Quitman, Rankin, Sharkey, Simpson, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tunica, Union, Walthall, Warren, Washington, Wilkinson, Yalobusha, Yazoo; in Tennessee the counties of Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Shelby, Tipton, Weakley.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
The Authority may approve grants to States and public and nonprofit entities.
All proposed projects must meet the clarification notes as part of the pre-application and the requirements of the State Delta plan which must be approved annually by the Authority.
Beneficiary Eligibility
General public.
Credentials/Documentation
Not applicable.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Local Development Districts will publicize, educate and assist applicants with the pre-application phase.
(See individual Delta Program descriptions).
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Each State's Governor will select his projects for DRA yearly Federal Grant funding from the Federal Co-Chairman's list of eligible pre-applications within the context of his own Authority-approved State plan and priorities. (See individual Delta program descriptions).
Award Procedures
Upon receipt of project application approved and certified by the State DRA determines that the project satifies all requirements for assistance under the ACT and holds a Board vote for approval. The DRA notifies Congressional offices and the office of the Governor of grant awards.
Deadlines
Per the approved current fiscal year grant program timeline.
Authorization
Departments Of Labor, Health And Human Services, And Education, And Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, 2000) as amended by H.R. 2646; The Farm Security And Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Farm Bill).
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Per the approved current fiscal year grant program timeline.
Appeals
There is an appeal process for the pre-application process. (See Delta direct grant program description) There are no appeal procedures as such, project review allows for full and free interchange with applicants selected for full applications.
Renewals
Generally renewals are not applicable except for administrative expenses, including technical services, of local development districts.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Refer to 90.201.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Project assistance is provided until completion.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Reporting and performance as required by the Federal agency or DRA for those programs directly administered by the Authority, as appropriate.
The Authority requires semi-annual reports of local development districts.
Audits
Audits as required by the Federal agency and the Authority. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Records as required by the basic Federal agency. Under the total audit concept, audits will be made on an organizational-wide basis (rather than grant-by-grant) under GAO guidelines, Standards for Audit of Governmental Organizations, Programs, Activities and Functions, and for programs covered by A-102, Attachment P.
Financial Information
Account Identification
95-0750-0-1-452.
Obigations
Reported under individual DRA programs.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
The Delta Regional Authority Code (limited distribution), The Communique an online journal devoted to the special problems and accomplishments of regional development. Annual Report.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Inquiries and proposals for projects should be submitted first to The Local Development District. (See DRA website for listing.) Other inquiries may be addressed to: Executive Director, Delta Regional Authority, 236 Sharkey Avenue, Suite 400, Clarksdale, MS 38614.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
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