DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and 2014 Annual Review 

Table of Contents 

Federal Co-Chairman’s Letter............................................................................1

Federal Co-Chairman’s Annual Review.......................................................................4

White House Rural Council and Delta Regional Authority Partnerships........................9

FY 2016 Budget Narrative................................................................................12 

BKD Auditor’s Letter......................................................................................16

FY 2014 Distressed and Non-distressed DRA Counties and Parishes...........................17 

FY 2014 SEDAP Program Overview...................................................................24

DRA Regional Cumulative SEDAP Benefits..........................................................34

DRA State-by-State Benefits and SEDAP Funded Project Summaries 

 Alabama.............................................................................................36 

 Arkansas.............................................................................................43 

Illinois................................................................................................51 

Kentucky.............................................................................................60 

Louisiana.............................................................................................69

Mississippi...........................................................................................80 

Missouri.............................................................................................88 

Tennessee............................................................................................95 

DRA Policy Initiatives and Programs.................................................................104

DRA Contact Information..............................................................................136 

DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY

OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL CO-CHAIRMAN

WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE:

444 NORTH CAPITOL NW, STE. 365

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001

PHONE: (202) 434-4870

REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS:

236 SHARKEY AVENUE, STE. 400 

CLARKSDALE, MS 38614 

PHONE: (662) 624-8600 

FAX: (662) 662-8537

Alabama · Arkansas · Illinois · Kentucky

Louisiana · Mississippi · Missouri · Tennessee

www.dra.gov

February 13, 2015 

On behalf of the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), I herein offer its FY 2016 budget request, which 

totals $14,936,000, an increase of $2,936,000 over its FY 2015 appropriation of $12,000,000. 

During FY 2016 the DRA shall invest in – and leverage additional federal funding toward – proven 

economic development solutions to assist the Delta region. Specifically, the agency’s programs 

will help promote the growth of a skilled workforce, bolster job creation, enhance access to 

affordable capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and increase community bank and 

lending institution activity, while increasing export activity by regional businesses. These 

investments will also help support and improve the outcomes of the Administration’s place-based 

initiatives and “Ladders of Opportunity” agenda. 

The DRA will dedicate $2,000,000 of its $2,936,000 increase to a specific set of programs, 

collectively called the “DRA Regional and Federal Partnerships Initiative.” The remaining 

$936,000 of the increased FY 2016 funding will be devoted to the DRA’s States’ Economic 

Development Assistance Program (SEDAP) investment program, all without increasing the 

administrative costs associated with those additional investments. 

In looking toward the coming year, the DRA will continue its successful practices of strong 

accountability and transparency. The DRA recognizes its institutional focus to be fiscally 

responsible, while it works to help create jobs, build communities, and improve lives. For 

example, in FY 2014, the DRA earned its 12th unmodified audit (out of 12 audits) from its 

independent financial auditors. Furthermore, in the DRA’s FY 2014 Performance and 

Accountability Report, there were no reportable deficiencies nor weaknesses, and in the past three 

audit years the DRA’s compliance systems have been tested 741 times with zero exceptions. 

Throughout its 13 years of service to the Delta region, the DRA has invested more than $128 

million into 871 projects, leveraging more than $702 million in other public funds and more than 

$2 billion in private-sector investment – for a total of $2.87 billion in leveraged funds, a leverage 

ratio of 21.26 to 1. 

As a result of these 13 investment cycles, the DRA’s SEDAP is producing some remarkable 

outcomes: 

 Helping to create and retain 41,673 jobs, 

 Helping to afford 82,486 families access to clean and safe water and/or sewer services, and 

 Helping to train 12,724 people for jobs in their area. 
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE:

444 NORTH CAPITOL NW, STE. 365

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001

PHONE: (202) 434-4870

REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS:

236 SHARKEY AVENUE, STE. 400 

CLARKSDALE, MS 38614 

PHONE: (662) 624-8600 

FAX: (662) 662-8537

Alabama · Arkansas · Illinois · Kentucky

Louisiana · Mississippi · Missouri · Tennessee

www.dra.gov

In FY 2014 alone, the DRA invested more than $9.6 million into 72 projects, leveraging more than 

$21.6 million in other public funds and more than $13 million in private-sector investment – for a 

total of $34.7 million in leveraged funds, a leverage ratio of 3.62 to 1. 

As a result of its FY 2014 investment, the DRA’s SEDAP is: 

 Helping to create and retain 2,182 jobs, 

 Helping to afford 29,889 families access to clean and safe water and/or sewer services, and 

 Helping to train 439 individuals for jobs in their area. 

It is important to note that when the DRA makes investments into projects that will help create or 

retain jobs, the DRA requires the grantee to execute a “participation agreement” which helps 

protect taxpayer money should outcomes not meet the levels executed in the grant agreement. In 

such cases, the DRA shall recover the prorated share of the deficiency, helping to ensure optimal 

outcomes and effective use of federal investment. 

During FY 2015, the DRA continues to work closely with federal partners on joint initiatives that 

will provide additional opportunities to grow and sustain the region. One of our proud partnerships 

is the Innovative Readiness Training program with the U.S. Department of Defense, which has 

brought free medical services to more than 50,000 Delta residents during a six-year span. Each of 

these health missions bring military medical reservists to some of our most underserved 

communities to provide preventative care services, including: dental exams and tooth extractions, 

physical exams, nutritional education, mental health consultation, and optical exams and glasses 

for those in need. The DRA is looking forward to continuing this partnership in FY 2016 in Delta 

communities in the Missouri bootheel and the Alabama Black Belt region. 

These new and continued joint investments with federal partners will help leverage better 

outcomes for families and individuals in the region, empowering Delta communities to secure 

more resources for infrastructure development, to gain access to affordable capital for small 

businesses and entrepreneurs, and to ensure better job training and more skilled workforces. The 

DRA is a partner in the following joint programs, and will continue its involvement with these and 

other collaborative federal initiatives: 

 The Made In Rural America (MIRA) Export and Investment Initiative led by the White 

House Rural Council (WHRC), (DRA served as a convener in the region, holding the 

largest of the five national forum events);

 The Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) with the White House 

National Economic Council, the US Department of Commerce Economic Development 

Administration, and partners across the federal government; 

 The Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Military Medical Program with the US 

Department of Defense; 
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE:

444 NORTH CAPITOL NW, STE. 365

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001

PHONE: (202) 434-4870

REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS:

236 SHARKEY AVENUE, STE. 400 

CLARKSDALE, MS 38614 

PHONE: (662) 624-8600 

FAX: (662) 662-8537

Alabama · Arkansas · Illinois · Kentucky

Louisiana · Mississippi · Missouri · Tennessee

www.dra.gov

 The Healthy Workforce Challenge with the US Department of Health and Human Services, 

Health Resources Services Administration; 

 The Delta Health Care Services (DHCS) Grant Program with the US Department of 

Agriculture, Rural Development; 

 The Local Foods, Local Places (LFLP) Program with the US Environmental Protection 

Agency, the US Department of Agriculture, the US Department of Labor, The Centers for 

Disease Control, and the Appalachian Regional Commission; 

 The Promise Zones initiative with the US Department of Agriculture and the US 

Department of Housing and Urban Development; 

 The Delta Community Capital Initiative with the US Department of Housing and Urban 

Development, The US Department of the Treasury, Community Development Financial 

Institution, and the US Department of Agriculture, Rural Development; 

 The Rural Jobs Accelerator Challenge with the US Department of Commerce Economic 

Development Agency and the US Department of Agriculture; 

 The Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant Program 

(TAACCCT) with the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training 

Administration; 

 Community-based partnerships with the White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong 

Communities (SC2). 

With all these accomplishments in the DRA’s past and present, I look forward to continuing 

our efforts in the coming year and building upon our record of helping to create jobs, build 

communities, and improve the lives of all people in the Delta region. 

Thank you for your support of the important work that we do. Should you have any questions, 

please do not hesitate to contact me at cmasingill@dra.gov or my Chief of Staff, Bill Triplett, 

at btriplett@dra.gov. 

Sincerely, 

Christopher A. Masingill 
Federal Co-Chairman’s Annual Review 

FY 2014 proved to be an exciting and productive year for the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), as 

it expanded already existing partnerships and programs and took great strides in creating new 

opportunities, resources and services for Delta communities. Collaborating with an array of 

agency partners at the federal, state and local levels, the DRA enhanced existing programs and 

embarked upon new policy initiatives that addressed important priorities like workforce 

development, entrepreneurship, and access to affordable capital. Under the leadership of Federal 

Co-Chairman Chris Masingill and State Co-Chairman Governor Phil Bryant, the DRA continues 

to expand its efforts in support of communities, businesses, and people in the Delta region, by 

making targeted investments supporting the development of a skilled, productive workforce, 

successful small businesses and entrepreneurs, and strong public and transportation infrastructure. 

Below are some highlights of the past year’s accomplishments discussed in further detail 

throughout this publication. 

February 2014

Each year, the Delta Regional Authority holds its Annual Governors Quorum Meeting during the 

National Governors Association (NGA) conference. At that time, the region’s eight governors 

join DRA leadership and staff to discuss the past year, plan for the coming year, and make 

decisions on how to move the agency forward. The meeting provided the Federal Co-Chairman 

and DRA staff the opportunity to update the Board of Governors on DRA’s programs, investments, 

and policy initiatives. With the support of its Board of Governors, DRA approved the coming 

year’s state allocations for the States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP)—

DRA’s flagship federal investment program—and determined distressed and non-distressed 

county and parish designations. Additionally, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant assumed the role 

of State Co-Chairman for the coming year, as Missouri Governor Jay Nixon completed his twoyear term in the state chair position. 

February ended with the launch of DRA’s 2014 Innovative Readiness Training season with the 

Cajun Care medical mission in Abbeville, Louisiana. This is the first time in six years that DRA 

and the military reserves have held an IRT medical mission outside the summer months. During 

ten days of service, Navy Reserve and Air National Guard troops provided free medical, dental, 

optical, mental, and health education services to more than 3,100 southern Louisiana residents. 

These services were valued at more than $1 million in community impact for Abbeville and the 

surrounding region. 

March 2014

The Delta Regional Authority works closely with regional and national organizations that directly 

support or advocate for economic development in the Delta region and DRA leadership work 

closely with these organizations and their members to boost economic opportunities for Delta 

communities. In late March, Chairman Masingill engaged with members and leadership of both 

the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and National Association of 

Development Organizations (NADO) on a panel to discuss the strategic investments federal 

agencies are making in rural areas such as the Delta region. DRA leadership is actively involved 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 4
in both IEDC and NADO’s annual policy conferences to educate members on the role of DRA in 

its communities as well as gain insight into models for economic development that are seeing 

success across the country. 

DRA joined the mayors of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative in Washington to 

advocate for policies that support the economic growth of communities along the Mississippi River 

and the economic viability of the River itself. DRA staff and leadership participated in meetings 

and events with the mayors as they worked with federal leadership to bring container-on-barge 

shipping back to the Mississippi River and encouraged the US Army Corps of Engineers and 

congressional leadership to support increased investment into the infrastructure of small public 

ports along the River. 

April 2014

In order to be successful in its mission to help create jobs, build communities, and improve life for 

the nearly 10 million people of the Delta region, the Delta Regional Authority relies on strong 

partnerships and relationships with its fellow federal agencies. As part of the White House Rural 

Council, the DRA has built programs with fellow agencies and participated in other agencies’ 

funding programs to leverage increased federal investments in the Delta region. In April, Chairman 

Masingill, Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton, and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell welcomed 

US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, US Environmental Protection Agency 

Administrator Gina McCarthy, and US Department of Housing and Urban Development Region 4 

Administrator Ed Jennings as part of a tour to highlight federal investments made through the 

Partnerships for Sustainable Communities (PSC) and in partnership with DRA investments. At the 

end of the tour, the DRA hosted a community roundtable that allowed local leadership to showcase 

successful projects as well as voice challenges and needs that PSC can help to address in the future 

through potential implementation funding. 

May 2014

As some of its most important partners in driving economic development in the Delta, the Local 

Development Districts that cover the DRA’s footprint serve as front-line project developers and 

managers for the DRA. To support their abilities to provide quality technical assistance in this 

area, the DRA held its second Local Development District (LDD) Academy in Memphis, 

providing professional development for leadership and staff of the 44 local development districts 

in the region. The Academy trained participants in the programs, policies, and operations of the 

DRA as well as in best practices for project application and management. Graduates of the LDD 

Academy earned certification as DRA Strategic Partners—which is a requirement of LDD partners 

to work with DRA projects and receive administrative funding for front-line project management 

and development. 

The DRA also joined its federal partners from the White House Rural Council to announce the 

twelve regions designated as Manufacturing Communities as part of the Investing in 

Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP), which is designed to accelerate the resurgence 

of manufacturing in communities by support the development of long-term economic development 

strategies that help communities attract and expand private investment in and increase international 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 5
trade and exports. One of the twelve regions – the Southwest Alabama “Partners for Growth” 

Consortium – covers counties in the DRA’s footprint. DRA currently serves as the federal liaison 

working with the Southwest Alabama community to access federal funding to support its efforts. 

As part of IMCP, the DRA has inserted preference language into its SEDAP guidelines that 

prioritize projects that support designated communities’ efforts in boosting its manufacturing 

sector. 

June 2014

Chairman Masingill joined Mississippi Governor and DRA State Co-Chairman Phil Bryant to 

announce a $1.7 million investment into enhancing the region’s workforce development systems 

through its Reimagining the Delta Workforce initiative. The initiative would encompass eight 

state-specific summits to convene state leadership to identify challenges and opportunities for 

system transformation as well as a competitive investment program that empowers communities 

to train local leadership and develop plans to strengthen their regional workforce training systems. 

July 2014 

DRA joined the U.S. Department of Defense Civil-Military Programs for a sixth year of 

partnership in 2014 for Innovative Readiness Training (IRT), a program bringing military medical 

personnel to a community to provide free medical care to residents of the specified or surrounding 

communities. This summer, the partnership expanded its outreach in the region to organize four 

medical missions in 11 communities across six states - Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, 

Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee – serving more than 13,000 patients. The DRA continued its 

outreach and education efforts in partnership with the Health Resources and Services 

Administration to inform patients on their opportunities to enroll in the health insurance 

marketplace. Dr. Mary Wakefield, HRSA administrator, toured several clinics in Arkansas and 

visited with both the troops and the patients receiving services to experience the positive outreach 

taking place at the IRT medical missions.

In mid June, Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker joined DRA to host one of five 

Made in Rural America regional forums in Memphis, Tennessee. The forums brought together 

business owners, exporters, and support organizations to network with federal, state, and local 

leadership, learn more about the potential for growth available with exporting, and connect with 

the resources available to support their efforts. The DRA-DOC regional forum was the largest of 

the five, bringing more than 250 people together for this exciting event. Panels featured businesses 

exporting their products, shippers, export support organizations, and local and regional officials. 

At the end of the forum, prospective exporters were able to meet one on one with financial lending 

institutions and export assistance experts to discuss opportunities to begin exporting their product. 

August 2014 

DRA held its first three workforce summits, which convened business and industry, educators, 

government leaders, and economic and community developers to identify the challenges of and 

work towards solutions for reforming the Delta’s workforce development system into a pipeline 

of skilled workers equipped for the needs of 21st Century jobs. These summits in Arkansas, 

Missouri, and Tennessee connected more than 250 regional leaders with a network that can 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 6
collaborate to achieve positive change for the Delta region’s workforce development systems. The 

region’s ability to achieve and sustain economic growth relies on its ability to provide employers 

with the human resources required to necessary to deliver their products and services. Armed with 

the research and recommendations provided by the Southern Growth Policy Board’s report, Reimagining the Delta Workforce, DRA toured the eight states in its footprint engaging leaders in 

the discussion and search for solutions in their state. 

September 2014 

In September, the National Geographic Society’s Geotourism Division and the Big River Strategic 

Initiative (BSRI) partnered to promote the region as an official Geotourism destination. BRSI is 

leading the partnership effort to join the Mississippi River Corridor with a growing number of 

destinations nationally that participate in the global tourism program sponsored by the National 

Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations. Geotourism, defined as tourism that sustains or 

enhances the geographic character of a place, incorporates the concepts of sustainable tourism by 

preserving the unspoiled nature of its featured destinations and ecotourism. The Delta Regional 

Authority provided the funding necessary to launch the partnership, which will begin organizing 

regional meetings to recruit additional partners and businesses to participate in the geotourism 

project in 2015. 

Also in September, the Delta Leadership Institute honored its most recent graduating class of 

Executive Academy fellows at the Arkansas State Capitol in September. In recognition and support 

of the fact that strong leadership is essential to the success of rural America, DRA sponsors an 

elite group of leaders from its eight states in the region every year for a series of sessions outlining 

the Delta’s problems, solutions, and the resources necessary to achieve those solutions. During the 

six sessions taking place in five cities around the region and in Washington, DC, participants 

discuss challenges in access to affordable health care education, recruitment of business 

investment, retention of human capital, maintenance of necessary public infrastructure, and 

cultivation of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Most importantly, though, these sessions provide 

participants with the opportunity to collaborate on crafting solutions for the Delta region. This was 

the tenth graduating class from the Institute, and its members join more than 300 alumni of the 

program who live and work in the region. 

October 2014 

One of the greatest barriers to entry for starting or growing a small business in the Delta region is 

the availability and accessibility of affordable capital. In rural Delta communities, there is often a 

lack of access to banking services, borrowing opportunities, and the capital needed to achieve 

business success. In October, the Delta Regional Authority launched a series of workshops—

“Meet the Lenders”—to help Delta businesses connect to and access funding for their businesses. 

DRA worked with the US Small Business Administration, the Community Development Financial 

Institutions Fund (CDFI), and regional community lenders to host targeted networking sessions 

for small business owners and conversations with stakeholders to identify opportunities to increase 

lending in Delta counties and parishes. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 7
November 2014 

DRA awarded more than $9.6 million in investments in 72 projects across the eight-state region 

through the 13th cycle of the States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP). 

SEDAP is the DRA’s primary investment tool which makes significant impact in creating jobs, 

building communities, and improving lives in the Delta. The projects focus on the DRA’s four 

investment priorities of Basic Public Infrastructure, Transportation Infrastructure, Workforce 

Development and Education, and Business Development. These DRA investments are leveraging 

an additional $34.7 million in other public and private investment that contributes to job creation 

and retention, infrastructure development, workforce training, and business attraction. 

December 2014 

In continuation of its Reimagining the Delta Workforce summits, the DRA announced more than 

$1.5 million in investments into 12 communities across the region. These investments are directed 

at communities to train and connect their leadership in positive workforce development strategies 

and to begin planning and implementing regional workforce development systems. The 

investments come as a part of the Reimagining the Delta Workforce initiative, which is working 

through summits, investments, and stakeholder engagement to transform the level of skilled 

workers in Delta communities to attract and retain business investment and success in the region. 

January 2015 

As part of its Small Business and Entrepreneurship Initiative and in partnership with The Idea 

Village in New Orleans, the DRA launched the Delta Entrepreneurship Network (DEN) to identify, 

connect, nurture, and grow entrepreneurs across the Delta region by addressing regional 

deficiencies in capital, training, and best practices through a connected infrastructure of support 

organizations, investors, and educators. The Delta Entrepreneurship Network will identify 16 

entrepreneurs and 16 entrepreneurship support organizations as Network fellows who will receive 

access to emerging entrepreneurs, gain technical knowledge and training, expand their 

entrepreneurship support network, and learn additional entrepreneurial ecosystem development 

strategies. The fellows will be selected in March 2015 through a series of pitch competitions known 

as the Delta Challenge and will then participate in a “pitch boot camp” before going on to pitch 

and network in a special segment of the 2015 New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. 

The DRA has launched a new website which provides residents, entrepreneurs, and economic 

developers across the region with new tools and information to identify and secure investments 

and resources to support local and regional economic development. The new website enhances its 

website’s services and makes more effective and efficient a visitor’s experience with DRA.gov. 

The new website will soon launch a new funding portal for SEDAP’s 2015 cycle, leadership portal 

for DLI, and a jobs board for the Delta Doctors program. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 8
White House Rural Council and Delta Regional Authority 

Partnership Updates 

To address challenges in rural America, the President signed an Executive Order establishing the 

White House Rural Council (WHRC). The White House Rural Council coordinates the 

Administration’s efforts in rural America by performing three core functions: streamlining and 

improving the effectiveness of federal programs serving rural America; engaging stakeholders, 

including farmers, ranchers, and local citizens, on issues and solutions in rural communities; and 

promoting and coordinating private-sector partnerships. 

The White House Rural Council focuses on job creation and economic development by targeting 

four key areas: 

 Opportunity: Increasing the flow of capital to rural areas, job creation, and workforce 

development 

 Innovation: Including the expansion of telecommunications, renewable energy, and new 

markets for rural communities 

 Quality of Life: Including increased access to quality healthcare, education, and housing, 

and particularly in persistent poverty counties and tribal areas 

 Conservation: Including expansion of outdoor opportunities and economic growth 

The DRA is a member of the White House Rural Council and actively participates with all 

aspects of the Council. In FY 2014 the DRA worked with its WHRC partners to support, 

promote, and implement the Made In Rural America Export and Investment Initiative as well as 

the Local Foods, Local Places Partnership. In FY 2015, the DRA continues to work with the 

White House Rural Council on these and other partnerships, including one item currently in 

development – the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Policy 

Conference. 

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Policy Conference 

In December 2014, the White House Rural Council (WHRC) announced that the Organization 

for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Rural Development Policy Conference: 

“National Prosperity through Modern Rural Policy” will be held in Memphis, Tennessee, May 

19-21, 2015. The conference will mark the 10th meeting of the world’s leading policy officials, 

international experts and representatives from the private sector for discussing best practices for 

rural areas, and will take stock of the evolution and progress made in rural development since the 

first conference of its kind held in 2002. It will be hosted by the White House Rural Council 

with the support of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Mexico’s Secretariat for 

Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development. The OECD is an international economic 

organization of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade. 

At the time of the upcoming conference’s announcement, the Delta Regional Authority was 

asked by its White House Rural Council and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) partners to 

participate with, and logistically support, the conference and related events in the Delta region. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 9
The DRA is working closely with USDA, OECD, and numerous other partners to plan event 

logistics for the conference, which will be held May 19-21,2015 in Memphis, Tennessee. DRA 

has helped to arrange for the hotel, meeting venues, convention center and visitors’ bureau and 

other spaces that will be utilized by the attendees of this invite-only conference. DRA has also 

agreed to assume responsibility for the planning of tours for international participants only, 

beginning on May 21 and ending on May 23, in surrounding areas and other parts of the Delta 

region. There will be four tours for the conference’s international travelers to choose from, and 

the tours will include regional highlights including Discovery Park of America, the US Space 

and Rocket Center, the Clinton Presidential Library, the BB King Museum, and other cultural 

and historic attractions in the region. The DRA will also host a reception for conference 

attendees on the first night of the conference.

The OECD “National Prosperity through Modern Rural Policy” conference will include panels 

and plenary sessions featuring Secretaries and Ministers from countries all over the world. 

Workshops will cover topics such as: natural resources and rural development; food security and 

the role for modern policy; housing and land use in rural areas; creating jobs and economic 

opportunities; linking rural and urban places; and building resilience in rural areas. These are 

just some of the many important topics that will be addressed, as the OECD and its partners work 

to measure progress that has been made over the past decade, and to set policy goals and 

recommendations for the future. 

Made in Rural America Export and Investment Initiative 

The Made in Rural America Export and Investment Initiative was first announced on February 7, 

2014, when the President directed his administration, working through the White House Rural 

Council, to develop a new initiative focused on rural exporting. The main aim of the initiative is 

to bring together federal resources to help rural businesses and leaders take advantage of new 

investment opportunities and access new customers and markets abroad. The initiative includes 

many federal partners, including but not limited to: the Delta Regional Authority, the US 

Department of Agriculture, the US Department of Commerce, the US Small Business 

Administration, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and the Appalachian Regional 

Commission. 

In FY 2014, in partnership with the White House Rural Council, the Delta Regional Authority 

hosted the largest of five major summits held across the country. The summits were born out of 

the Made in Rural America initiative and brought together businesses and experts to share best 

practices for exporting goods and services from rural areas. Secretary Penny Pritzker of the US 

Department of Commerce and Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill 

were the keynote speakers at the Memphis forum. The event connected attendees to technical 

assistance as well as state and federal resources and provided an opportunity for business owners 

and exporters to network with local, state, and national leaders around the shared interest in 

building the pipeline for exports from the Delta region. The summit was held in north Memphis 

on Thursday, July 17th at Southwest Tennessee Community College. More than 250 participants 

attended the forum representing communities from all eight Delta states and across the country. 

The forum featured many different speakers who relayed their best practices and 

recommendations for aspiring and new rural exporters. The extensive lineup of speakers during 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 10
the event included: Karen Nippert, Southwest Tennessee Community College Vice President of 

Institutional Advancement; Phil Trenary, Greater Memphis Chamber President and CEO; Doug 

McKalip, White House Domestic Policy Council Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Affairs; David 

Spann, Memphis US Export Assistance Center Director for US Commercial Service; Don Lake, 

Vice President of Global Operations for Dunavant Logistics Group; Craig Simonton, Sales and 

Marketing Manager for Hydratek; Reid Dulberger, President and CEO for Memphis and Shelby 

County Economic Growth Engine (EDGE,) Mayors AC Wharton and Mark Luttrell, and many 

others. 

In FY 2015, the White House Rural Council has again directed the DRA, along with other 

federal partners, to continue to develop the MIRA initiative. The DRA has agreed to host 

capacity building workshops in the Delta region with support from the US Department of 

Commerce and other agencies to continue the important work of training business leaders to 

become successful exporters and to prepare them for, and support them in attending, 

international trade missions. 

Local Foods, Local Places 

First announced on June 9, 2014 during a White House Rural Council (WHRC) meeting in 

Washington DC, which was livestreamed to other locations across the country, the Local Foods, 

Local Places (LFLP) program aims to boost economic opportunities for local farmers and 

businesses, to improve access to healthy foods, to revitalize downtowns and traditional 

neighborhoods by supporting farmers’ markets, food hubs, community gardens, and community 

kitchens, and to improve accessibility of these amenities. The announcement was made during 

the WHRC meeting jointly by US Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, US 

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Environmental Protection Agency Deputy 

Administrator Bob Perciasepe, Delta Regional Authority Federal-Co Chairman Chris Masingill, 

and Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chairman Earl Gohl. The LFLP partnership 

exemplifies the White House Rural Council’s commitment to leveraging community solutions to 

solve economic challenges in rural America. The program focuses on developing local food 

systems as a means of revitalizing traditional downtowns and promoting economic 

diversification. The program helps the winning communities improve their livability by 

promoting economic development, preserving rural lands, and increasing access to locally grown 

food. In addition to the White House Rural Council and the five partners listed above, the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also joined the partnership, for a total of six federal 

partners supporting and funding the initiative. 

On December 3, 2014 the federal partners announced 26 communities selected to participate in 

the LFLP program nationwide with seven of those awardees located in the Delta. The DRA held 

a Delta region-wide press call led by Chairman Masingill with Doug McKalip, White House 

Domestic Policy Council Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Affairs and other federal 

representatives announcing the seven communities in four DRA states. The call was attended by 

all seven awardees as well as local and federal representatives and members of the press. In FY 

2015, the DRA continues to work closely with the federal partners and regional awardees to 

support the successful completion of their projects. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 11
Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Summary 

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA’s) FY 2016 budget request is $14,936,000, a $2,936,000 

increase from DRA’s fiscal year 2015 appropriation of $12,000,000. 

Sources and Uses 

The budget table below shows the uses of DRA’s appropriation as follows: 

 FY 2014 Actual Federal Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2014 

 FY 2015 Budgeted Federal Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2015 

 FY 2016 Requested Federal Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2016 

As seen in the table below, DRA’s appropriation increases by $2,936,000 in FY 2016. 

Sources & Uses of FY Federal Appropriations

Sources: FY 2014 Actual FY 2015 Budgeted FY 2016 Requested 

$ 12,000,000 $ 12,000,000 $ 14,936,000

Uses: FY 2014 Actual FY 2015 Budgeted FY 2016 Requested 

Administration $ 1,597,480.00 $ 1,546,241.00 $ 1,546,241.00 

LDD Technical Asst. 453,902.00 453,902.00 453,902.00 

SEDAP 9,448,618.00 9,499,857.00 10,435,857.00 

E/C 500,000.00 500,000.00 500,000.00 

DRA Regional and Federal 

Partnerships Initiative

 - - 2,000,000.00 

Total $ 12,000,000 $ 12,000,000 $ 14,936,000 

Through its $12,936,000 in base funding, DRA will continue to make investments directed toward 

DRA’s four priority funding categories: small business and entrepreneurship; workforce 

development and training; basic public infrastructure and transportation infrastructure. 

Additionally, DRA will hold its administrative expenses constant with its FY 2015 level of 

$1,546,241 while increasing its investments by $936,000. The amount of $936,000 will be devoted 

to DRA’s States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP) investment account and 

other DRA investment programs—without increasing administrative costs associated with 

administering those additional investments. 

The $2,000,000 in additional funding will be directed toward a new funding category for FY 2016: 

a set of programs collectively called the “DRA Regional and Federal Partnerships Initiative.” The 

amount of $2,000,000 will go directly to the DRA Regional and Federal Partnerships Initiative 

and shall invest in—as well as leverage additional federal funding toward—proven economic 

development solutions. The initiative will promote the growth of a skilled workforce, bolster job 

creation, enhance access to affordable capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs, increase 

community bank and lending institution activity, and increase export activity by regional 

businesses. These investments will also help to support and improve the outcomes of the current 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 12
Administration’s place-based initiatives and “Ladders of Opportunity” agenda, as further 

described below in the “DRA Regional and Federal Partnerships Initiative” section.

DRA Regional and Federal Partnerships Initiative 

The $2,000,000 in additional funding allocated for the DRA Regional and Federal Partnerships 

Initiative will align directly with the President’s “Ladders of Opportunity” agenda and with the 

driving philosophy behind the Administration’s place-based investment efforts. DRA will use this 

additional funding to implement new and existing programs. In doing so, DRA will use its 

regional expertise to ensure that resources are put to use in ways that are relevant to the 

communities they aim to improve—drawing upon local assets as comparative advantages to 

enhance the effectiveness of federal assistance. 

DRA’s Regional and Federal Partnerships Initiative will be targeted to produce and leverage 

measurable outcomes, such as: 

 Supporting and growing a more highly skilled workforce; 

 Creating and supporting new and indigenous businesses and new jobs; 

 Increasing funding and activity for community banks, CDFIs, and other lending 

institutions; 

 Enhancing access to affordable capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs (which are 

the backbone of the Delta economy); 

 Increasing export activity by regional businesses, particularly targeted at minority 

businesses which have shown to hold particular willingness in exporting products; and 

 Increasing volume and effectiveness of federal investments into Delta communities. 

In order to produce the outcomes described above, the DRA will direct the additional funding to 

support the following efforts: 

 “Phase-one” (awareness-raising) and “phase-two” (technical skill-building) workshops, to 

train and educate local leaders, economic developers, and community stakeholders to 

access new resources and implement sound economic development strategies and 

programs in their communities; (eg. partnership events like the Made in Rural America 

regional export forums and DRA-SBA “Meet the Lenders” Access to Affordable Capital 

workshops) -- Requested funding of $200,000.

 An investment fund to finance “phase-one” challenge grant and competitive investment 

programming that leverage other public and private funds into the region--targeted at 

programs that increase job creation, exports from Delta businesses, and creation of local 

businesses (eg. partnership in programs like the Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator 

Challenge, Make it in America Challenge, and Delta Health Care Services Grant 

Program); as well as “phase-two” implementation resources—as follow-up support upon 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 13
completion of planning phase—for existing federal planning grants to ensure measurable 

outcomes for a project (eg. partnership in programs like HUD Sustainable Communities 

Regional Planning Grants and Local Foods, Local Places) -- Requested funding of 

$1,000,000; 

 Hiring four regional project developers, who will provide on-the-ground support 

throughout the region to communities and local leadership as well as feedback to DRA and 

federal partners to better align and utilize existing resources, infrastructure, and 

organizations available from federal agencies and philanthropic partners (eg. a regional 

innovation on the White House Council for Strong Cities, Strong Communities focused on 

rural-urban connections); -- Requested funding of $400,000;

 Building a regional data platform that will aggregate publicly available information in an 

easy-to-use resource bank that local leadership can use for grant-writing, economic 

development, and planning--and the resources to train local leadership in its use (an 

extrapolation of East Arkansas Planning and Development District’s forthcoming regional 

data platform—initially funded by a HUD regional planning grant) -- Requested funding 

of $400,000; and 

Budget 

DRA Regional and Federal Partnerships Initiative Funding Request Investment

Phase-one and phase-two outreach and education workshops for local leadership 

and stakeholders

$200,000

Investment fund for phase-one challenge grants, new or leveraged competitive 

investment programs, and phase-two implementation of federal planning grants

$1,000,000

Four regional project developers providing on-the-ground support for 

communities in resource alignment and project development

$400,000

Regional Data Platform for grant writing, economic development, and planning $400,000

Total: $2,000,000

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 14
Sources FY 2014 Actual FY 2015 Bugeted FY 2016 Requested

Federal Appropriations $ 12,000,000 $ 12,000,000 $ 14,936,000

Uses

Administration $ 1,597,480 $ 1,546,241 $ 1,546,241

LDD Technical Asst. $ 453,902 $ 453,902 $ 453,902

SEDAP $ 9,448,618 $ 9,499,857 $ 10,435,857

E/C $ 500,000 $ 500,000 $ 500,000

DRA Regional and Federal Partnerships Initiative $ - $ - $ 2,000,000

Uses FY 2014 Actual FY 2015 Bugeted FY 2016 Requested

FED -- Salaries $ 498,789 $ 464,777 $ 315,777

FED - Benefits 147,718 137,109 93,154

DRA -- Salaries 201,740 222,257 301,757

DRA -- Benefits 59,581 65,566 89,018

Unfilled Positions - 30,000 30,000

Contracted Staff Positions 77,623 77,623 148,623

FED -- Travel 100,000 60,565 60,598

DRA -- Travel 32,000 57,000 57,000

Meetings &Conferences 56,000 56,000 56,000

Contracted Services & Supplies 82,800 82,800 82,800

Insurance: Non-Health 13,200 13,200 13,200

Professional Services 193,844 157,844 157,844

Communications & Outreach 39,385 26,700 26,700

Professional Development 11,000 11,000 11,000

Printing & Publications 32,252 32,252 32,252

Supplies & Materials 40,048 40,048 40,048

Equipment 11,500 11,500 11,500

 - - 18,969

 Total Administrative Expenses $ 1,597,480 $ 1,546,241 $ 1,546,241

Delta Regional Authority Budget Presentation: Sources & Uses of Federal Appropriations

Administration

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 15
December 11, 2014 

Mr. Christopher A. Masingill 

Federal Co-Chairman 

Delta Regional Authority 

236 Sharkey Avenue, Suite 400 

Clarksdale, MS 38614-4405 

Dear Chairman Masingill: 

I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate you and your staff on a successful audit. Delta 

Regional Authority (DRA) received an unmodifed or “clean” opinion on their financial 

statements, which is the highest level of opinion we can issue. Furthermore, the auditor’s report 

on internal control over financial reporting and compliance for audits under Government 

Auditing Standards reported no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in internal 

control. DRA continued to have a strong performance in compliance with policy and grant 

controls. This was evident in our compliance testing where our sample of 18 grant files were 

tested for a total of 224 attributes with no exceptions identified. 

The results of the audit are commendable, and I appreciate your and Chief of Staff Bill Triplett’s 

commitment to achieving such financial and compliance results. Under your leadership, DRA 

has continued to seek ways to enhance and improve internal accounting and compliance controls. 

BKD stands ready to assist in any way we can. 

We appreciate our long standing relationship with DRA and look forward to future years. 

Sincerely, 

Timothy T. Burns, CPA 

TTB:jsh 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 16
Determination of a Distressed County/Parish:

Unemployment rate of one percent higher (9.0 percent) than the national 

average (8.0 percent) for the most recent 24-month period; or have a per 

capita income of 80 percent or less of the national per capita income.

Distressed

Non-Distressed

FY 2014 DRA Distressed/Non-Distressed

Counties and Parishes

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 17
From FY 2013 to FY 2014 these counties/parishes changed designation 

according to the formula below:

Unemployment rate of one percent higher (9.8 percent) than the national average 

(8.8 percent) for the most recent 24-month period; or have a per capita income 

of 80 percent or less of the national per capita income.

DRA Service Area

Non-Distressed became 

Distressed

Distressed became

Non-Distressed

Distressed/Non-Distressed Counties and Parishes 

Designation Change from FY 2013 to FY 2014

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 18
FY 2014 DRA Counties and Parishes 

In FY 2013, the DRA Service Area encompassed a total of 210 distressed counties 

and parishes of 252 total counties and parishes. For FY 2014, 212 counties 

unfortunately met the distressed threshold. To be deemed distressed, counties and 

parishes must meet one of the following criteria: 

1. An unemployment rate of one percent higher (9.8 percent) than the national 

average (8.8 percent) for the most recent 24-month period; or 

2. Have a per capita income of 80 percent or less of national per capita income. 

To determine pockets of distress in non-distressed counties, 2010 Census Tract 

information was reviewed to determine which tracts meet the distressed criteria; the 

2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for unemployment and 

Per Capita Income were used. 

FY 2014 Newly Distressed Counties and Parishes 

Alabama Arkansas Illinois Kentucky

(None) Cleveland Gallatin Hickman

Saline Trigg

Louisiana Mississippi Missouri Tennessee

East Feliciana Lafayette Butler Shelby

St. Bernard Tipton

FY 2014 Newly Non-Distressed Counties and Parishes 

Alabama Arkansas Illinois Kentucky Louisiana

(None) Arkansas Hamilton Union Acadia

Prairie Assumption

Mississippi Missouri Tennessee Cameron

(None) (None) (None) De Soto

Natchitoches

The above table illustrates counties and parishes whose status changed for FY 2014. 

Counties/ parishes that no longer meet either of the aforementioned criteria are 

reassigned as non-distressed counties. Counties/parishes that may have been 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 19
categorized as distressed in FY 2013 and now meet one or both of the formula criteria 

are reassigned, per guidelines, to reflect status as non-distressed counties. 

FY 2014 DRA Distressed Counties and Parishes 

Alabama

Barbour Conecuh Lowndes Pickens

Bullock Dallas Macon Russell

Butler Escambia Marengo Sumter

Choctaw Greene Monroe Washington

Clarke Hale Perry Wilcox

Arkansas

Ashley Dallas Lawrence Randolph

Baxter Desha Lee Searcy

Bradley Drew Lincoln Sharp

Calhoun Fulton Lonoke St. Francis

Chicot Grant Marion Stone

Clay Greene Mississippi Van Buren

Cleveland Independence Monroe White

Craighead Izard Ouachita Woodruff

Crittenden Jackson Phillips

Cross Jefferson Poinsett

Illinois

Alexander Hardin Perry Randolph

Franklin Johnson Pope Saline

Gallatin Massac Pulaski Union

Hamilton

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 20
Kentucky

Caldwell Fulton Livingston Todd

Calloway Graves Lyon Trigg

Carlisle Henderson Marshall Webster

Christian Hickman McLean

Crittenden Hopkins Muhlenberg

Louisiana

Allen East Feliciana Livingston Tangipahoa

Avoyelles Evangeline Madison Tensas

Beauregard Franklin Morehouse Union

Bienville Grant Red River Vermillion

Caldwell Iberville Richland Washington

Catahoula Jackson St. Bernard West Carroll

Claiborne Jefferson Davis St. Helena West Feliciana

Concordia La Salle St. James Winn

East Carroll Lincoln St. Martin

Mississippi

Adams Franklin Leflore Tallahatchie

Amite Grenada Lincoln Smith

Attala Holmes Marion Sunflower

Benton Humphreys Marshall Tate

Bolivar Issaquena Montgomery Tippah

Carroll Jasper Panola Tunica

Claiborne Jefferson Pike Union

Coahoma Jefferson Davis Quitman Walthall

Copiah Lafayette Sharkey Warren

Covington Lawrence Simpson Washington

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 21
Mississippi (cont.)

Wilkinson

Yalobusha

Yazoo

Missouri

Bollinger Howell Pemiscot Stoddard

Butler Iron Perry Texas

Carter Madison Phelps Washington

Crawford Mississippi Reynolds Wayne

Dent New Madrid Ripley Wright

Douglas Oregon Shannon

Dunklin Ozark St. Francois

Tennessee

Benton Dyer Haywood McNairy

Carroll Fayette Henderson Obion

Chester Gibson Henry Shelby

Crockett Hardeman Lake Tipton

Decatur Hardin Lauderdale Weakley

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 22
FY 2014 DRA Non-Distressed Counties and Parishes 

Alabama

All counties designated as “distressed.”

Arkansas

Arkansas Prairie Pulaski Union

Illinois

Hamilton Jackson White Williamson

Kentucky

Ballard McCracken Union

Louisiana

Acadia Iberia Plaquemines St. Mary

Ascension Jefferson Pointe Coupee Webster

Assumption Lafourche Rapides West Baton Rouge

Cameron Natchitoches St. Charles

De Soto Orleans St. John the Baptist

East Baton Rouge Ouachita St. Landry

Mississippi

DeSoto Hinds Madison Rankin

Missouri

Cape Girardeau Scott Ste. Genevieve

Tennessee

Madison

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 23

States’ Economic Development Assistance Program 

(SEDAP) 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 24
FY 2014 States’ Economic Development Assistance Program 

(SEDAP) 

The DRA’s flagship federal investment program – the States’ Economic Development Assistance 

Program (SEDAP) – emphasizes active project development and management with the 44 local 

development districts serving as front-line managers of DRA investments. DRA program staff play 

an active role in developing the funded projects, building on-ground relationships, and connecting 

applicants and project developers to other funding sources to leverage DRA investments into 

increased public and private investment for projects. SEDAP is structured to complement the 

existing economic development strategies and activities taking place in the region. 

The program has numerous avenues for funding economic and community development projects: 

Administrative Notice – A document and method used by DRA to make and track policy and 

procedural changes. Annually, DRA reviews its procedures and programs for necessary revisions. 

These updates are encapsulated and officially announced through an Administrative Notice. 

Automated Application Website – A web-based portal, found at funding.dra.gov, allows 

applicants to fill out and submit applications for DRA investment programs. After release of the 

awards the site provides back-office support and tools for the management of constituent 

portfolios. Each of the DRA partner groups (DRA staff, DRA board, LDDs, and 

applicants/awardees) will have a customized web presence to assist in monitoring application and 

project activity. Transparency and accountability are enhanced through the utilization of this 

technology. 

Critical Development Projects – These projects include investment(s) of $300 million or more 

from public and/or private sources and - other than for technology-related projects - for which 350 

or more jobs created and/or retained. Some developers refer to these projects as “super projects” 

because of the significant economic impact they bring to an area. 

Emergency/Contingency (E/C) Account – Funds set aside for projects defined separately as 

emergencies related to natural disasters, fire, or unforeseen/unexpected developments that present 

a health and/or safety risk to communities; or contingency projects that fall outside the normal 

scope and/or timeline of the annual investment program. This funding program allows the DRA 

the flexibility to act quickly to assist with needed investments in order to help restore a community 

or secure an economic development project. 

Expedited Process – One of several funding pathways, the “Expedited Process” will be initiated 

by the state when an immediate need exists for an economic development prospect project. A 

“prospect” would be a company committed to creating and/or retaining jobs in a community. Upon 

the request of the state, DRA will act quickly to complete the necessary review, eligibility 

determination, and award documentation delivery so as to meet the unique circumstances of the 

project. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 25
Federal Priority Eligibility Criteria -- Investment priorities established by the DRA, which are 

included to match the Administration’s priorities: 1) Innovation and Small Business, to focus on 

job creation and/or retention, 2) Regional Approach, 3) Multiple Funding Partners, 4) Emergency 

Funding Need, 5) Funding Partner Initiatives: as DRA establishes federal and regional 

partnerships, through program initiatives designed to provide supplemental funding support, DRA 

will give additional consideration to applicants such as communities receiving an “Investing in 

Manufacturers Community Partnership” (IMCP) designation, a Promise Zones designation, or 

other awards and program designations as identified by the Federal Co-Chairman, and 6) Small 

Business and Entrepreneurship Policy Framework: clear demonstration of project alignment with 

policies set forth in Strengthening Our Local Economies, the DRA Small Business and 

Entrepreneurship Policy Framework. 

Every funded project should meet at least one of the six federal funding criteria. 

Priority Status Designation – An eligible project that meets at least one goal or priority from 

each of the three additional areas of investment focus: 1) Federal Priorities (in line with an 

Administration priority or program), 2) Regional Development Plan goals, and 3) DRA State Plan 

goals and/or priorities. Projects meeting these requirements are given first consideration during the 

project selection process and have the best chance of receiving a SEDAP award. 

The governors’ project recommendations, in line with Chairman Masingill’s and the President’s 

priorities, demonstrate the DRA’s continued emphasis of the four funding priority areas: 

 Basic Public Infrastructure 

 Transportation Infrastructure 

 Business Development - emphasis on entrepreneurship 

 Workforce Development 

As seen in figures 3 and 4, basic public and transportation infrastructure project investments totaled 

$5,019,571 (52.3 percent of SEDAP investments) and funding for distressed counties and parishes 

was $7,320,873 (76.2 percent of SEDAP investments) for Fiscal Year 2014. The total project 

funding investment is $9,606,768. These DRA investments leveraged $21,689,084 in additional 

project funding, a ratio of 2.26 to 1, and $13,054,437 in private investment, a ratio of 1.4 to 1. 

47.7%

52.3%

Figure 3. Share of SEDAP 

funding by federal priority

Business &

Workforce

Development

Basic Public &

Transportation

Infrastructure

23.8%

76.2%

Figure 4. Share of SEDAP funding 

by distress status

Non-Distressed

Distressed

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 26
In FY 2014 alone, the DRA invested more than $9.6 million into 72 projects, leveraging more than 

$21.6 million in other public funds and more than $13 million in private-sector investment – for a 

total of $34.7 million in leveraged funds, a leverage ratio of 3.62 to 1. 

In FY 2014 is it projected that the SEDAP funding cycle is: 

 Helping to create and retain 2,182 jobs; 

 Helping to afford 29,889 families access to clean and safe water and/or sewer; and 

 Training 439 individuals for jobs in their area. 

Throughout its 13 years of service to the Delta region, the DRA’s SEDAP has invested more than 

$128 million into 871 projects, leveraging more than $702 million in other public funds and more 

than $2 billion in private sector investment – for a total of $.287 billion in leveraged funds, a 

leverage ratio of 21.26 to 1. 

As a result of these 13 investment cycles, the DRA’s SEDAP is producing some remarkable 

outcomes: 

 Helping to create and retain 41,673 jobs; 

 Helping to afford 82,486 families access to clean water and/or sewer; and 

 Helping to train 12,724 individuals for jobs in their area. 

The job creation and retention numbers above are guaranteed, to a large extent, through the 

execution of the DRA Private Entity Participation Agreement. The Participation Agreement was 

developed to demonstrate the private entity’s commitment to creating and/or retaining jobs and 

injecting capital investment into a funded project. Congress intends for DRA to track certain 

metrics such as jobs created, jobs retained, families affected, and people trained. DRA also tracks 

private leveraged investment in addition to the other public investment (other project funds). 

When the DRA reports to Congress the results of the prior fiscal years, there is an increased level 

of confidence in the metrics being reported due to this agreement. In the case of a project that 

benefits a private entity by allowing the entity to expand or locate a facility, the DRA asks the 

private partner to show its commitment by agreeing to this legal document. In the event the private 

partner withdraws or does not meet its commitment, it is required to refund a percentage of the 

project investment to the DRA as a “claw-back.” 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 27
The above Venn Diagram depicts three additional areas of investment focus for projects 

determined to be eligible for funding: federal priorities, DRA Regional Development Plan goals, 

and goals from individual state strategic plans. Project applications should demonstrate how the 

proposed activities meet at least some of the priorities and goals from each of the three areas. In 

this way, a project becomes more competitive and rises in priority ranking. 

The diagram provides a visual representation of how a project achieves the highest priority 

ranking. The area where all three circles overlap includes projects meeting some priority criteria 

in each area. Projects meeting criteria in two of the three areas have a lesser priority ranking and 

can be considered for funding after top priority projects have been funded. 

Federal

Priority

Eligibility

Regional

Development Plan

Goals

Governor/

State

Priorities

1

1 1

2 2

2

3

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 28
The diagram lists the individual funding categories and priority criteria for each component. A 

project must first meet the eligibility criteria found in the outer layer before passing through to the 

inner layers of additional investment focus. All eligible projects will be arranged from highest to 

lowest priority and project selections will be made from this list. Projects not meeting eligibility 

criteria in the outer layer are not reviewed further to determine priority ranking and will not be 

considered for funding. 

DRA’s Four Funding Categories

• Basic Public Infrastructure

• Transportation infrastructure

• Business Development

• Workforce Development

Federal Priority Eligibility

 • Innovation and Small Business

• Regional Approach 

• Multiple Funding Partners

• Emergency Funding Need

• Funding Partner Initiatives

• Alignment with Small Business & Entrepreneurship Policy Framework

Regional Development Plan Goals

• Competitive, Productive Workforce

• Physical and Digital Connections

• Sustainable Communities

 

Governor/State Priorities

• Specific For Each State

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 29
FY 2014 Schedule of Project Funds 

Table One - Schedule of FY 2014 Awards:

Priority Area: DRA Obligated:

Basic Public Infrastructure $ 3,288,337 

Transportation Infrastructure 1,731,234

Business Development 3,165,864

Workforce Development 686,227

Total $ 8,871,662 

State Allocations: DRA Obligated:

Alabama $ 1,007,128.19

Arkansas 1,409,639.32

Illinois 744,740.07

Kentucky 867,005.19

Louisiana 1,596,438.50

Mississippi 1,386,206.75

Missouri 1,088,953.22

Tennessee 1,348,506.76

Total $ 9,448,618.00

Summary of Schedule of Funds 

The first section of Table One demonstrates the division of project development funds based upon 

federal priority levels. The table reflects the total amount of funds that the DRA has obligated to 

projects in each of the four funding categories for a total of $8,871,662. 

The second part of Table One illustrates the amounts allocated and obligated to each of the eight 

states using the predetermined allocation formula and criteria. Several factors are used in the 

Allocation Methodology and carry specific weight including the following: 

Equity Factor: 50%

Population Factor: 10%

Distressed Population: 20%

Distressed County Area: 20%

Total 100%

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 30
Additionally, FY 2014’s allocation was as follows: 

Table Two - FY 2014 States’ Allocations 

State Percent of Total Allocation Total Allocation

Alabama 10.66% $1,007,128.19

Arkansas 14.92% 1,409,639.32

Illinois 7.88% 744,740.07

Kentucky 9.18% 867,005.19

Louisiana 16.90% 1,596,438.50

Mississippi 14.67% 1,386,206.75

Missouri 11.53% 1,088,953.22

Tennessee 14.27% 1,348,506.76

Total 100% $9,448,618.00

Appeals Process 

During determination of initial eligibility, there may be projects submitted that are deemed 

ineligible for funding. All applicants whose applications are deemed ineligible have the option to 

appeal. The DRA maintains appeals processes on the following conditions: 1) appeals may be 

submitted for ineligible projects; and 2) appeals may be submitted for projects determined eligible, 

but lack a priority designation, as listed in the SEDAP Manual, to address: Basic Public 

Infrastructure (BPI), Transportation Infrastructure (TI), Business Development (BD), or 

Workforce Development (WD). 

Notifications sent to 

applicant and other 

team members 

outlining reason for 

ineligibility, 

pursuant to 

clarification notes 

Applicant has 5 

working days to 

submit additional 

documentation and 

supplemental 

information to 

satisfy eligibility 

requirements

DRA Project 

Development Team 

reviews 

supplemental 

information and 

provides opinion of 

eligibility to Federal 

Co-Chairman

Projects sent to the 

Federal CoChairman for review 

and determination 

of FINAL eligibility

Appeal results 

returned within 3 

working days from 

final eligibility 

determination

Process of Appeal for Ineligible Projects & Eligible Projects 

Lacking Priority Designation

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 31
Appeals Process 

1. Notifications sent to applicant. 

2. Applicant has five (5) days to submit more documentation. 

3. Review of appeal by Project Development and Management team. 

4. Project sent to Federal Co-Chairman. 

5. Appeal results returned to applicant within three (3) working days. 

Every effort is made to assist projects deemed ineligible or eligible and lacking priority status to 

meet the necessary criteria for funding. Of 85 applications deemed ineligible for FY 2014 SEDAP 

funding: 22 were appealed resulting in 12 reversals. To determine eligibility, DRA reviews all 

priority areas for applicability, which can help increase a project’s priority status. For complete 

state-by-state application details, see 2014 SEDAP Application Summary Table. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 32
Delta Regional Authority Service Area

Color indicates FY 2014 DRA Service Area

DRA projects funded for all fiscal years

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 33
Cumulative Regional Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2002 through FY 2014.

Total DRA projects 871

DRA Investment $ 128,794,774

Other Public Investment $ 702,734,341

Other Private Investment $ 2,035,870,788

Overall Total Investment $ 2,867,399,903

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 21.26

Jobs Created 9,720

Jobs Retained 8,588

Individuals Trained for Jobs 5,529

Families Affected 28,047

Projected Jobs Created 13,534

Projected Jobs Retained 9,831

Projected Individuals Trained for Jobs 7,195

Projected Families Affected 54,439

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 34
DRA %	of	total Public %	of	total Private %	of	total Total Ratio

Alabama $										13,108,917 24.20% $													27,365,614 50.51% $													13,700,000 25.29% $													54,174,531 3.1:1

Arkansas $										20,776,487 4.61% $										116,011,119 25.76% $										313,589,500 69.63% $										450,377,106 20.7:1

Illinois $										10,628,582 9.48% $													66,834,675 59.61% $													34,658,746 30.91% $										112,122,003 9.5:1

Kentucky $										11,361,895 5.01% $													88,109,760 38.87% $										127,195,000 56.12% $										226,666,655 18.9:1

Louisiana $										23,282,915 2.63% $													95,960,857 10.85% $										765,450,000 86.52% $										884,693,772 37.0:1

Mississippi $										18,042,075 4.86% $													86,469,659 23.29% $										266,796,694 71.85% $										371,308,428 19.6:1

Missouri $										14,951,065 5.07% $													61,630,664 20.89% $										218,468,030 74.04% $										295,049,759 18.7:1

Tennessee $										16,642,838 3.52% $										160,351,993 33.90% $										296,012,818 62.58% $										473,007,649 27.4:1

DRA $											128,794,774

Public $											702,734,341

Private $							2,035,870,788

Total $							2,867,399,903

Total	Projects 871

DRA LEVERAGE RATIO

FISCAL	YEARS	2002	THROUGH	2014

Leverage Comparison Regional Investment Comparison

Cumulative Totals: FY02-FY14 For	every	DRA	dollar	spent,	how	well	were	other	public	and	private	dollars	leveraged?

0%	 10%	 20%	 30%	 40%	 50%	 60%	 70%	 80%	 90%	 100%	

Alabama	

Arkansas	

Illinois	

Kentucky	

Louisiana	

Mississippi	

Missouri	

Tennessee	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

3.1:1	

20.7:1	

9.5:1	

18.9:1	

37.0:1	

19.6:1	 18.7:1	

27.4:1	

0.0:1	

10.0:1	

20.0:1	

30.0:1	

40.0:1	

Alabama	 Arkansas	 Illinois	 Kentucky	 Louisiana	 Mississippi	 Missouri	 Tennessee	

	$128,794,774		

	$702,734,341		

	$2,035,870,788		

DRA	

Public	

Private	

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 35
DRA Projects in Alabama

AUTAUGA

BALDWIN

BARBOUR

BIBB

BLOUNT

BULLOCK

BUTLER

CALHOUN

CHAMBERS

CHEROKEE

CHILTON

CHOCTAW

CLARKE

CLAY

CLEBURNE

COFFEE

COLBERT

CONECUH

COOSA

COVINGTON

CRENSHAW

CULLMAN

DALE

DALLAS

DE KALB

ELMORE

ESCAMBIA

ETOWAH

FAYETTE

FRANKLIN

GENEVA

GREENE

HALE

HENRY

HOUSTON

JACKSON

JEFFERSON

LAMAR

LAUDERDALE

LAWRENCE

LEE

LIMESTONE

LOWNDES

MACON

MADISON

MARENGO

MARION

MARSHALL

MOBILE

MONROE

MONTGOMERY

MORGAN

PERRY

PICKENS

PIKE

RANDOLPH

RUSSELL

ST. CLAIR

SHELBY

SUMTER

TALLADEGA

TALLAPOOSA

TUSCALOOSA

WALKER

WASHINGTON

WILCOX

WINSTON

Barbour

Bullock

Butler 

Choctaw

Clarke

Conecuh

Dallas

Escambia 

Greene

Hale

Lowndes

Macon

Marengo

Monroe

Perry

Pickens

Russell

Sumter

Washington

Wilcox

Alabama Counties Served by DRA

FY 2014 DRA Service Area

DRA projects funded prior to FY 2014

DRA projects funded during FY 2014

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 36
Total DRA projects 82

DRA Investment $ 13,108,917

Other Public Investment $ 27,365,614

Other Private Investment $ 13,700,000

Overall Total Investment $ 54,174,531

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 3.13

Jobs Created 953

Jobs Retained 1,671

Individuals Trained for Jobs 14

Families Affected 3,435

Projected Jobs Created 1,275

Projected Jobs Retained 44

Projected Families Affected 5,186

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

“The Delta Regional Authority has been a proven ally in our efforts to improve 

Alabama communities and provide job opportunities, particularly in Alabama’s 

Black Belt region. I cherish our relations with the Delta Regional Authority 

and the positive impacts of their programs in our state.”

- Governor Robert Bentley

Cumulative Alabama Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2002 through FY 2014.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 37
Alabama Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2014.

Total DRA projects 6

DRA Investment $ 1,113,675

Other Public Investment $ 2,471,500

Overall Total Investment $ 3,585,175

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 2.22 

Projected Jobs Created 62

Projected Jobs Retained 60

Projected Families Affected 4,973

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

“The DRA has offered exceptional resources and 

tools to enhance rural Alabama through SEDAP 

investments, convening necessary economic

development partners like the Alabama workforce 

summit, and informational resources. I believe

that continued improvement through these

DRA resources will help build more vibrant

communities in the Alabama Black Belt.

- Austin Monk, Executive Director of Washington 

County Economic Development Initiative

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 38
Alabama DRA %	of	total Public Private Total Ratio Assessment ROI

2002 $							1,385,000 $							2,003,013 $																								- $							3,388,013 1.4:1 $									56,885 2335%

2003 $							1,679,715 $							6,546,782 $																								- $							8,226,497 3.9:1 $									65,906 2449%

2004 $										 510,000 $							2,769,920 $																								- $							3,279,920 5.4:1 $									52,747 867%

2005 $										 457,311 $							1,124,259 $																								- $							1,581,570 2.5:1 $									73,544 522%

2006 $										 720,472 $										 700,418 $																								- $							1,420,890 1.0:1 $									80,422 796%

2007 $										 836,808 $							1,633,794 $																								- $							2,470,602 2.0:1 $									65,288 1182%

2008 $										 712,423 $										 151,000 $																								- $										863,423 0.2:1 $									71,916 891%

2009 $							1,081,946 $										 116,763 $																								- $							1,198,709 0.1:1 $									74,437 1354%

2010 $							1,421,481 $													60,492 $																								- $							1,481,973 0.0:1 $									78,043 1721%

2011 $							1,197,283 $										 397,673 $					12,000,000 $					13,594,956 10.4:1 $									78,187 1431%

2012 $							1,013,555 $																								- $																								- $							1,013,555 0.0:1 $									83,636 1112%

2013 $										 979,248 $							9,390,000 $							1,700,000 $					12,069,248 11.3:1 $									77,339 1166%

2014 $							1,113,675 $							2,471,500 $																								- $							3,585,175 2.2:1 $									89,926 1138%

DRA $													13,108,917

Public $													27,365,614

Private $													13,700,000

Total $													54,174,531

Total	Projects 82

Leverage Comparisons

Cumulative Totals: FY02-FY14 Small	state	assessments,	translate	into	large	returns!!

STATES' RETURN ON DRA INVESTMENTS - Alabama

FISCAL	YEARS	2002	THROUGH	2014

0%	 10%	 20%	 30%	 40%	 50%	 60%	 70%	 80%	 90%	 100%	

2002	

2004	

2006	

2008	

2010	

2012	

2014	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

2335%	 2449%	

867%	

522%	

796%	

1182%	

891%	

1354%	

1721%	

1431%	

1112%	 1166%	 1138%	

0%	

500%	

1000%	

1500%	

2000%	

2500%	

3000%	

2002	 2003	 2004	 2005	 2006	 2007	 2008	 2009	 2010	 2011	 2012	 2013	 2014	

24%	

51%	

25%	 DRA	

Public	

Private	

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 39
Alabama: City of Brewton Gas Line Relocation 

Awardee: City of Brewton Federal ID#: 63-6001208 

 

Awardee Contact: Yank Lovelace Phone: 251-867-8081 

 

County: Escambia Congressional District: 1 

Funding: 

DRA $206,000 18.05%

Applicant $935,000 81.95%

Total $1,141,000 100.00%

Description: With funding from the Delta Regional Authority, the city of Brewton will, for safety 

reasons, relocate a gas pipeline first installed in 1955. 

Benefits: The benefits to the residents of Brewton will be a safer community, as the current gas line poses 

an imminent safety risk to the citizens. 

Alabama: Ace Tech 

 

Awardee: Bullock County Development Authority Federal ID#: 63-0817007 

 

Awardee Contact: Ashton Estes Phone: 334-244-6903 

 

County: Bullock Congressional District: 2 

Funding: 

DRA $180,000 100.00%

Total $180,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funding shall be used to replace the roof of a facility owned by Bullock County 

Development Authority, which is home to Ace Tech, an automotive supplier. 

Benefits: The proposed activities will have a significant impact on the ability of the company to grow and 

expand. Without the proposed repairs, Ace Tech would have no other option than to relocate. The 

economic impact of such a loss would be detrimental to Bullock County and the city of Union Springs. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 40
 Alabama: City of Camden Sewer 

Awardee: City of Camden Federal ID#: 63-6001215 

 

Awardee Contact: Max Baggett Phone: 334-682-4603 

 

County: Wilcox Congressional District: 7 

Funding: 

DRA $246,147 100.00%

Total $246,147 100.00% 

 

Description: DRA emergency funds were used for wastewater repairs to stop raw sewage from entering 

the environment. 

Benefits: The health hazards associated with the raw sewage being released into the open will be 

alleviated. The residents of Camden will no longer be exposed to the health risks posed by this situation. 

Alabama: City of Selma Interpretive Center 

 

Awardee: City of Selma Federal ID#: 63-6001362 

 

Awardee Contact: George Evans Phone: 334-874-2111 

 

County: Dallas Congressional District: 7

Funding: 

DRA $150,000 9.09%

Applicant $300,000 18.18%

FHWA $1,200,000 72.73%

Total $1,650,000 100.00%

 

Description: The currently unoccupied second and third floors of the Selma Interpretive Center have had 

minimal structural repairs, but not full rehabilitation. Proposed construction activities will install an 

elevator for accessibility and other improvements to allow expansion of the Center to these floors.

Benefits: The city of Selma will benefit from the Center’s expansion due to an expected increase in the 

number of visitors. The increase in visitors will lead to more tax dollars coming to the community. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 41
Alabama: Phenix City Wastewater Plant Improvements

Awardee: City of Phenix Federal ID#: 63-6001343 

 

Awardee Contact: Eddie Lowe Phone: 334-448-2727 

 

County: Russell Congressional District: 3 

Funding: 

DRA $143,480 79.72%

Applicant $36,500 20.28%

Total $179,980 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used by the City of Phenix to install a new gas scrubbing system. The 

system is one part of a consent order with 21 different items listed. 

Benefits: Ammonia and nitrogen levels in discharged water will decrease to permitted levels, protecting 

the health of the citizens of Phenix City and the Chattahoochee River system. Additionally, it will ensure 

that 951 existing manufacturing jobs will remain in Phenix City. 

Alabama: Wilcox IDA GD Copper USA Phase 3

Awardee: Wilcox County Industrial Development Board Federal ID#: 61-1216796 

 

Awardee Contact: Floyd Harris Phone: 334-412-9643 

 

County: Wilcox Congressional District: 7 

Funding: 

DRA $188,048 100.00%

Total $188,048 100.00%

Description: The Wilcox County Industrial Development Authority has arranged interim financing to 

exercise their purchase option. DRA funding will be the final part of an overall three-year $800,000 

project investment for land purchase. 

Benefits: The DRA investment helped to secure GD Copper USA’s capital investment of $100 million 

for the facility and an annual payroll estimated at $10 million. There are 1,000 construction jobs expected 

during the 15-month construction period and 300 new full-time jobs to be created. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 42

DRA Projects in Arkansas

ARKANSAS

ASHLEY

BAXTER BENTON

BOONE

BRADLEY

CALHOUN

CARROLL

CHICOT

CLARK

CLAY

CLEBURNE

CLEVELAND

COLUMBIA

CONWAY

CRAIGHEAD

CRAWFORD

CRITTENDEN

CROSS

DALLAS

DESHA

DREW

FAULKNER

FRANKLIN

FULTON

GARLAND

GRANT

GREENE

HEMPSTEAD

HOT SPRING

HOWARD

INDEPENDENCE

IZARD

JACKSON

JEFFERSON

JOHNSON

LAFAYETTE

LAWRENCE

LEE

LINCOLN

LITTLE RIVER

LOGAN

LONOKE

MADISON

MARION

MILLER

MISSISSIPPI

MONROE

MONTGOMERY

NEVADA

NEWTON

OUACHITA

PERRY

PHILLIPS

PIKE

POINSETT

POLK

POPE

PRAIRIE

PULASKI

RANDOLPH

ST. FRANCIS

SALINE

SCOTT

SEARCY

SEBASTIAN

SEVIER

SHARP

STONE

UNION

VAN BUREN

WASHINGTON

WHITE

WOODRUFF

YELL

Arkansas Counties Served by DRA

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

FY 2014 DRA Service Area

DRA projects funded prior to FY 2014

DRA projects funded during FY 2014

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 43
Total DRA projects 104

DRA Investment $ 20,776,487

Other Public Investment $ 116,011,119

Other Private Investment $ 313,589,500

Overall Total Investment $ 450,377,106

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 20.68

Jobs Created 1,459

Jobs Retained 456

Individuals Trained for Jobs 2,490

Families Affected 4,264

Projected Jobs Created 1,949

Projected Jobs Retained 1,043

Projected Individuals Trained for Jobs 181

Projected Families Affected 3,366

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

Cumulative Arkansas Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2002 through FY 2014.

“We need the infrastructure, tools and equipment necessary to provide a

foundation for future progress, development and job creation. This [SEDAP

program] is a great investment in our state that will help empower rural

Arkansas communities and businesses.”

– U.S. Senator John Boozman

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 44
Arkansas Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2014.

Total DRA projects 9

DRA Investment $ 1,436,247

Other Public Investment $ 5,045,826

Other Private Investment $ 150,000

Overall Total Investment $ 6,632,073

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 3.62

Projected Jobs Created 679

Projected Jobs Retained 443

Projected Families Affected 1,384

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

“The DRA’s ability to provide gap resources for 

project viability, leverage relationships with other 

federal agencies, build local leadership capacity, 

and support economic development efforts that are 

unique to our communities is invaluable to 

EAPDD’s efforts to sustain the economic vitality

of our region. The role played by DRA in our

region is truly the difference between viable

economic health and economic decline.”

- Melissa Rivers, Executive Director,

East Arkansas Planning and Development District

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 45
Arkansas DRA %	of	total Public Private Total Ratio Assessment ROI

2002 $							4,088,425 $					15,747,897 $																											- $								19,836,322 3.9:1 $									89,879 4449%

2003 $										 961,630 $							1,183,734 $																											- $										2,145,364 1.2:1 $							104,132 823%

2004 $										 565,071 $							4,207,920 $																											- $										4,772,991 7.4:1 $									83,340 578%

2005 $										 650,857 $							7,501,346 $																											- $										8,152,203 11.5:1 $							104,670 522%

2006 $							1,431,220 $							9,795,700 $								36,900,000 $								48,126,920 32.6:1 $							114,459 1150%

2007 $							1,205,168 $					16,945,502 $																											- $								18,150,670 14.1:1 $									91,621 1215%

2008 $							1,761,090 $							9,862,924 $						111,362,000 $						122,986,014 68.8:1 $							100,922 1645%

2009 $							1,106,999 $							6,628,004 $						125,000,000 $						132,735,003 118.9:1 $							105,740 947%

2010 $							2,180,414 $					22,732,000 $																											- $								24,912,414 10.4:1 $							111,222 1860%

2011 $							1,747,820 $							7,759,301 $								40,000,000 $								49,507,121 27.3:1 $							111,511 1467%

2012 $							2,226,220 $							2,680,965 $																82,500 $										4,989,685 1.2:1 $							119,282 1766%

2013 $							1,415,326 $							5,920,000 $																95,000 $										7,430,326 4.2:1 $							111,553 1169%

2014 $							1,436,247 $							5,045,826 $														150,000 $										6,632,073 3.6:1 $							130,086 1004%

DRA $													20,776,487

Public $											116,011,119

Private $											313,589,500

Total $											450,377,106

Total	Projects 104

Leverage Comparisons

Cumulative Totals: FY02-FY14 Small	state	assessments,	translate	into	large	returns!!

STATES' RETURN ON DRA INVESTMENTS - Arkansas

FISCAL	YEARS	2002	THROUGH	2014

0%	 10%	 20%	 30%	 40%	 50%	 60%	 70%	 80%	 90%	 100%	

2002	

2004	

2006	

2008	

2010	

2012	

2014	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

4449%	

823%	 578%	 522%	

1150%	 1215%	

1645%	

947%	

1860%	

1467%	 1766%	

1169%	 1004%	

0%	

1000%	

2000%	

3000%	

4000%	

5000%	

2002	 2003	 2004	 2005	 2006	 2007	 2008	 2009	 2010	 2011	 2012	 2013	 2014	

4%	

26%	

70%	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 46
Arkansas: City of Stuttgart Airport 

 

Awardee: City of Stuttgart Federal ID#: 71-6016820 

 

Awardee Contact: Marianne Maynard Phone: 870-673-3535 

 

County: Arkansas Congressional District: 1 

Funding: 

DRA $200,000 6.56%

EDA $1,000,000 32.79%

State of Arkansas $1,850,000 60.66%

Total $3,050,000 100.00%

 

Description: CAVU Aerospace Inc. is based at the Stuttgart Municipal Airport and has exceeded its 

goals over the past three years in the aircraft parts recycling industry. The airport is proposing to further 

extend its relationship with CAVU by constructing a hangar and office complex and making road and 

parking improvements. 

Benefits: With this investment by DRA, CAVU will create a minimum of 20 new jobs. Economic growth 

and development will be enhanced, a local business in the Delta will be able to expand, and, with the 

completion of this project, both Arkansas and Prairie counties will be better poised to attract and retain a 

talented and skilled workforce. 

Arkansas: Rison City Sewer Project 

 

Awardee: City of Rison Federal ID#: 71-0358607 

 

Awardee Contact: Vernon Dollar Phone: 870-536-1971 

 

County: Cleveland Congressional District: 4 

Funding: 

DRA $196,250 100.00%

Total $196,250 100.00%

 

Description: DRA funds will be used by the city of Rison to correct defects in the sewer pond that stop 

sanctions from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. 

Benefits: The necessary repairs will make the facility more efficient, safe, and compliant. The outcome of 

this project will bring the facility into compliance with all government regulations. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 47
Arkansas: Big River Steel Sewer Improvements 

Awardee: City of Osceola Federal ID#: 71-6016933 

 

Awardee Contact: Dickie Kennemore Phone: 870-563-5102 

 

County: Mississippi Congressional District: 1 

Funding: 

DRA $256,500 29.65%

Applicant $608,576 70.35%

Total $101,719 100.00%

 

Description: DRA funds will be used to help finance the extension of water and sewer utilities from 

existing lines at the intersection of Highway 198 and County Road 239 to the new Big River Steel 

facility. 

Benefits: This project will create approximately 600 jobs in the area and place 750-3000 participants in 

workforce training and education programs. Once this project has been completed, the new utilities will 

serve 57 households in the surrounding area and 6 commercial facilities.

Arkansas: Addison Shoe Company Equipment

Awardee: Wynne Economic Development Corporation Federal ID#: 45-3570024 

 

Awardee Contact: Chris Clifton Phone: 870-932-3957 

 

County: Cross Congressional District: 1 

Funding: 

DRA $177,720 36.97%

Applicant $153,000 31.83%

State of Arkansas $150,000 31.20%

Total 480,720 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used as gap funding in the purchase of equipment for expansion and 

modernization of a shoe manufacturing facility for the Addison Shoe Company. 

Benefits: The equipment will allow for retention and generation of 12 jobs, workforce training and 

education opportunities, and local investment in the company. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 48
Arkansas: Clay County Road Upgrade 

Awardee: Clay County Federal ID#: 71-6009854 

 

Awardee Contact: Nelson Forest Phone: 870-598-2667 

 

County: Clay Congressional District: 1 

Funding: 

DRA $256,500 20.41%

State of Arkansas $1,000,000 79.59%

Total $1,256,500 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will assist in upgrading and paving a county road to be utilized by PECO Foods. 

Benefits: With the DRA investment the project will result in the creation and retention of 40 jobs at the 

industrial site serviced by the proposed road upgrade. Additionally, this project will result in an improved 

access road to industrial sites servicing the City of Corning. 

Arkansas: Marmaduke Rail Spur 

 

Awardee: City of Marmaduke Federal ID#: 71-0412172 

 

Awardee Contact: Steve Dixon Phone: 870-597-2753 

 

County: Greene Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 44.44%

State of Arkansas $18,000 8.00%

Local $107,000 47.56%

Total $225,000 100.00%

 

Description: DRA funds will be used in the construction of a rail spur alongside the Union Pacific main 

line for rail access to two industrial sites with committed industries. 

Benefits: With help from DRA, this project will result in the retention of numerous jobs between two 

industrial sites serviced by the proposed rail spur construction. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 49
Arkansas: Superior Uniform Group Parking Lot Reconstruction

 

Awardee: City of Eudora Federal ID#: 71-6003053 

 

Awardee Contact: William Stanton Phone: 870-355-4436 

 

County: Chicot Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $118,402 100.00%

Total $118,402 100.00%

Description: The Superior Uniform Group’s parking lot is in desperate need of repair. The company is 

the largest place of employment in the surrounding area. DRA funds will be used to repair and upgrade a 

parking lot utilized by Superior Uniform Group and owned by the city. 

Benefits: DRA’s investment will help Superior Uniform Group retain 206 full-time jobs and will help 

improve access for Superior’s customers. 

Arkansas: Excel Boats Roof Replacement 

Awardee: Stone County Federal ID#: 71-6008747 

 

Awardee Contact: Stacey Avey Phone: 870-269-3351 

 

County: Stone Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $87,875 90.48%

Local $9,250 9.52%

Total $87,875 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will assist in the replacement of the roof on a county-owned building that 

houses Excel Boats—the nation’s premier aluminum boat manufacturer with nationwide sales. 

Benefits: DRA’s investment will help create five jobs. Excel Boats currently employees 36 people. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 50
Arkansas: Wynne Industrial Park

 

Awardee: Wynne Economic Development Corporation Federal ID#: 45-3570024 

 

Awardee Contact: Chris Clifton Phone: 870-238-2601

 

County: Cross Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $43,000 100.00%

Total $43,000 100.00%

Description: Funding will be used on expenses incurred through the geotechnical engineering and land 

survey work required for the site. This may include all or part of the following: sample boring; basic 

laboratory testing on samples to determine the physical properties and engineering characteristics of the 

soils; preparation of an engineering analysis of the data collected in the field and laboratory determinations 

with the goal of developing recommendations for design and construction procedures and precautions 

including soil behavior with respect to seismic events as appropriate. 

Benefits: The output and outcome measures include the generation of new jobs, workforce training and 

education opportunities and the investment in the region by the local government and business community. 

The outcome will also include positive impacts on households that benefit from employment opportunities, 

while the region will be able to successfully compete for new business. Useful life on the park development 

is well over 10 years and could result conservatively in doubling the size of the current manufacturing 

workforce in Cross County in the next 10 years. In regard specifically to the two preliminary services 

funded by DRA, the outcome will be a geotechnical quantitative analysis of the soil and a recorded deed of 

the land parcel that encompasses the industrial park. 

DRA Projects in Illinois

ADAMS

ALEXANDER

BOND

WINNEBAGO

BROWN

BUREAU

CALHOUN

CARROLL

CASS

CHAMPAIGN

CHRISTIAN

CLARK

CLAY

CLINTON

COLES

COOK

CRAWFORD

CUMBERLAND

DE KALB

DE WITT

DOUGLAS

D U

PAGE

EDGAR

EDWARDS

EFFINGHAM

FAYETTE

FORD

FRANKLIN

FULTON

GALLATIN

GREENE

GRUNDY

HAMILTON

HANCOCK

HARDIN

HENDERSON

HENRY

IROQUOIS

JACKSON

JASPER

JEFFERSON

JERSEY

LAKE

JOHNSON

KANE

KANKAKEE

KENDALL

KNOX

J O

DAVIESS

LA SALLE

LAWRENCE

LEE

LIVINGSTON

LOGAN

MCDONOUGH

STEPHENSON

MCLEAN

MACON

MACOUPIN

MADISON

MARION

MARSHALL

MASON

MASSAC

MENARD

MERCER

MONROE

MONTGOMERY

MORGAN

MOULTRIE

OGLE

PEORIA

PERRY

PIATT

PIKE

POPE

PULASKI

PUTNAM

RANDOLPH

RICHLAND

ROCK ISLAND

ST. CLAIR

SALINE

SANGAMON

SCHUYLER

SCOTT

SHELBY

STARK

MCHENRY

TAZEWELL

UNION

VERMILION

WABASH

WARREN

WASHINGTON

WAYNE

WHITE

WHITESIDE

WILL

WILLIAMSON

BOONE

WOODFORD

Illinois Counties Served by DRA

Alexander

Franklin

Gallatin

Hamilton

Hardin

Jackson

Johnson

Massac

Perry

Pope

Pulaski

Randolph

Saline

Union

White

Williamson

FY 2014 DRA Service Area

DRA projects funded prior to FY 2014

DRA projects funded during FY 2014

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 51
Total DRA projects 129

DRA Investment $ 10,628,582

Other Public Investment $ 66,834,675

Other Private Investment $ 34,658,746

Overall Total Investment $ 112,122,003

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 9.55

Jobs Created 783

Jobs Retained 1,644

Individuals Trained for Jobs 2,379

Families Affected 3,099

Projected Jobs Created 415

Projected Jobs Retained 1,287

Projected Individuals Trained for Jobs 5,945

Projected Families Affected 6,667

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

“These investments will give southern Illinois communities the extra boost

they need to keep their infrastructure in good shape and to take advantage

of the opportunities our ongoing economic recovery has to offer.”

- Governor Pat Quinn

Cumulative Illinois Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2002 through FY 2014.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 52
Illinois Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2014.

Total DRA projects 9

DRA Investment $ 744,740

Other Public Investment $ 1,752,560

Other Private Investment $ 550,000

Overall Total Investment $ 3,047,300

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 3.09

Projected Jobs Created 18

Projected Jobs Retained 14

Projected Individuals Trained for Jobs 50

Projected Families Affected 6,243

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

“These infrastructure projects will not only bring 

new development to the area, but also create jobs 

and help move the economy forward.”

- U.S. Congressman Bill Enyart

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 53
Illinois DRA %	of	total Public Private Total Ratio Assessment ROI

2002 $							2,303,403 $					10,071,756 $																								- $					12,375,159 4.4:1 $									50,060 4501%

2003 $										 655,370 $							5,724,316 $																								- $							6,379,686 8.7:1 $									57,997 1030%

2004 $										 308,000 $							3,033,920 $																								- $							3,341,920 9.9:1 $									46,417 564%

2005 $										 381,606 $							1,466,088 $																								- $							1,847,694 3.8:1 $									59,781 538%

2006 $										 686,050 $							9,982,537 $							6,100,000 $					16,768,587 23.4:1 $									65,372 949%

2007 $										 341,629 $							6,990,357 $							7,400,000 $					14,731,986 42.1:1 $									53,243 542%

2008 $										 581,444 $							2,312,916 $										 265,752 $							3,160,112 4.4:1 $									58,648 891%

2009 $										 819,518 $							4,631,377 $										 100,000 $							5,550,895 5.8:1 $									60,949 1245%

2010 $										 518,050 $							2,009,403 $													15,000 $							2,542,453 3.9:1 $									62,391 730%

2011 $							1,428,509 $							5,048,966 $							5,080,691 $					11,558,166 7.1:1 $									62,463 2187%

2012 $							1,154,079 $							3,087,992 $					14,390,303 $					18,632,374 15.1:1 $									66,816 1627%

2013 $										 706,184 $					10,722,487 $										 757,000 $					12,185,671 16.3:1 $									61,851 1042%

2014 $										 744,740 $							1,752,560 $										 550,000 $							3,047,300 3.1:1 $									58,739 1168%

DRA $													10,628,582

Public $													66,834,675

Private $													34,658,746

Total $											112,122,003

Total	Projects 129

Leverage Comparisons

Cumulative Totals: FY02-FY14 Small	state	assessments,	translate	into	large	returns!!

STATES' RETURN ON DRA INVESTMENTS - Illinois

FISCAL	YEARS	2002	THROUGH	2014

0%	 10%	 20%	 30%	 40%	 50%	 60%	 70%	 80%	 90%	 100%	

2002	

2004	

2006	

2008	

2010	

2012	

2014	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

4501%	

1030%	

564%	 538%	

949%	

542%	

891%	

1245%	

730%	

2187%	

1627%	

1042%	 1168%	

0%	

1000%	

2000%	

3000%	

4000%	

5000%	

2002	 2003	 2004	 2005	 2006	 2007	 2008	 2009	 2010	 2011	 2012	 2013	 2014	

9%	

60%	

31%	 DRA	

Public	

Private	

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 54
Illinois: Baldwin Fifth Street Improvements 

 

Awardee: Village of Baldwin Federal ID#: 37-0914503 

 

Awardee Contact: Daniel Jones Phone: 618-785-2225 

 

County: Randolph Congressional District: 12

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 84.00%

Applicant $19,200 16.00%

Total $119,200 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to make improvements to Fifth Street running from the village’s 

southern limits to northern limits due to heavy truck traffic hauling coal to Dynegy Midwest Power Plant. 

Benefits: This project will provide a safe, smooth roadway within the village and will allow for a smooth 

transition from the municipal street to the county highways lying north and south of the village. These 

improvements will provide a safer intersection with State Route 154. 

Illinois: Village of Prairie du Rocher MOCOC Phase IV 

 

Awardee: Village of Prairie du Rocher Federal ID#: 37-6019566 

 

Awardee Contact: Raymond Cole Phone: 618-284-7171 

 

County: Randolph Congressional District: 12

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 83.33%

Applicant $20,000 16.67%

Total $120,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to complete the slip-lining of the final 4 of 11 total gravity drains. 

Benefits: This project will help ensure the recertification of the Prairie du Rocher-Modoc levee by the US 

Army Corps of Engineers and accreditation by FEMA that will allow the village to invite commercial and 

residential development. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 55
Illinois: Hardin County General Hospital Laboratory Equipment Upgrade 

 

Awardee: Hardin County General Hospital Federal ID#: 37-0702309 

 

Awardee Contact: Roby Williams Phone: 618-252-7463 

 

County: Hardin Congressional District: 15

Funding: 

DRA $59,062 90.43%

Applicant $6,250 9.57%

Total $65,312 100.00%

Description: Hardin County General Hospital will use DRA funds to purchase a new hematology 

analyzer that will allow HCGH to expand lab services to its two-county service area. 

Benefits: The 140 hospital employees and estimated 800 inpatients, 5,500 emergency room patients, 

more than 18,000 hospital outpatients, and 12,000 clinic patients will have better laboratory procedures 

performed and analyzed within the hospital as opposed to being sent to an external lab for readings, 

thereby allowing quicker healthcare treatment. 

Illinois: City of Eldorado Route 45 Utility Adjustments 

 

Awardee: City of Eldorado Federal ID#: 37-6001987 

 

Awardee Contact: Rocky James Phone: 618-273-6566 

 

County: Saline Congressional District: 15

Funding: 

DRA $27,930 5.29%

IEPA $500,000 94.71%

Total $527,930 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used for improvements to and relocation of the city's utilities located 

along US Route 45 that is undergoing roadway expansion by the Illinois Department of Transportation. 

Funds will specifically be used for the adjustment of ten manholes and one box culvert. 

Benefits: The area for improvements is predominantly populated by small business and residential 

homes and is almost fully developed. Relocating the city utilities will allow the city to maintain their 

utility system without permanent pavement blocking access to the system. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 56
Illinois: I-57 Airport Business Park 

 

Awardee: Benton/West City Economic Development Corp. Federal ID#: 37-1374614 

 

Awardee Contact: David Cooper Phone: 618-435-3427 

 

County: Franklin Congressional District: 12

Funding: 

DRA $115,287 88.88%

Applicant $9,918 7.65%

Private $4,500 3.47%

Total $125,205 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to open a 34-acre tract of land for the development of the Benton I57 Airport Business Park by constructing a commercial roadway. Blue Ridge Tractor has committed to be 

a tenant of the business park. 

Benefits: As a direct result of the project, the I-57 Airport Business Park will be established and 34 total 

acres of highly visible land will be available for development. Blue Ridge Tractor is a committed business 

and has agreed to create three new full-time jobs and to retain three jobs. 

Illinois: City of Herrin Lift Station Upgrade 

 

Awardee: City of Herrin Federal ID#: 37-6002360 

 

Awardee Contact: Victor Ritter Phone: 618-942-3177 

 

County: Williamson Congressional District: 12

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 11.86%

Applicant $743,000 88.14%

Total $843,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to upgrade two existing sanitary sewer lift stations and replace a 

force-main to increase the capacity for businesses around developed areas. 

Benefits: This expansion and upgrade of the system will ensure continued sewer service to the project 

area and an increased capacity that will allow for continued development. This project will help to enable 

the hiring of five new full-time employees. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 57
Illinois: Southern Illinois Airport Authority Fiber Optic Extension

 

Awardee: Southern Illinois Airport Authority Federal ID#: 37-6001093 

 

Awardee Contact: Gary Shafer Phone: 618-529-1721 

 

County: Jackson Congressional District: 12

Funding: 

DRA $54,961 47.81%

Applicant $60,000 52.19%

Total $114,961 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will extend fiber optic and sewer lines at the airport technology park for current 

tenants and to attract a new agri-business opportunity. 

Benefits: The fiber optic and sewer extensions provide direct benefit to the National Guard, technology 

park residents, aviation technology researchers, and a potential agri-business project. As a direct result of 

this project, the Southern Illinois Airport Authority will be able to expand business capacity by housing 

employees in a new location. The sewer extension provides necessary infrastructure for aviation 

researchers. 

Illinois: CHESI Optometry Program 

 

Awardee: Community Health & Emergency Services Federal ID#: 37-1100482 

 

Awardee Contact: Fred Bernstein Phone: 618-457-0450 

 

County: Alexander Congressional District: 12

Funding: 

DRA $112,500 87.25%

Applicant $16,442 12.75%

Total $128,942 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will assist in the purchase of equipment necessary to implement an 

optometry/ophthalmology program. The equipment purchased will reach the residents of both Alexander 

and Pulaski counties that utilize CHESI’s mega-clinic and diagnostic center services. 

Benefits: This project will help an estimated 300 people access optometry and ophthalmology services 

annually who would not otherwise have access to affordable care.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 58
Illinois: City of Grayville Industrial Park Road 

 

Awardee: City of Grayville Federal ID#: 37-6002349 

 

Awardee Contact: Joe Bisch Phone: 618-375-3671 

 

County: White Congressional District: 15

Funding: 

DRA $75,000 16.73%

Applicant $373,250 83.27%

Total $473,250 100.00%

Description: The city of Grayville is constructing 710 feet of truck access (IDOT standard) road that will 

be on city-owned property. The road will service several businesses within Grayville Industrial Park. 

Benefits: This project will leverage a private investment by Road Ranger of $4,100,000 and will help 

create five jobs. The project will also help leverage a private investment of $250,000 by Western 

Kentucky Drilling that will create five additional jobs. This access road supports the continued occupation 

of 35 of the park’s 130 total acres of developed land with three additional companies. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 59

DRA Projects in Kentucky

ADAIR

ALLEN

ANDERSON

BALLARD

BARREN

BATH

BELL

BOONE

BOURBON

BOYLE

BRACKEN

B

BRECKINRIDGE

BULLITT

BUTLER

CALDWELL

CALLOWAY

CAMPBELL

CARLISLE

CARROLL

CASEY

CHRISTIAN

CLARK

CLAY

CLINTON

CRITTENDEN

CUMBERLAND

DAVIESS

EDMONSON

ESTILL

FAYETTE

FLEMING

FRANKLIN

FULTON

GALLATIN

GARRARD

GRANT

GRAVES

GRAYSON

GREEN

HANCOCK

HARDIN

HARRISON

HART

HENDERSON

HENRY

HICKMAN

HOPKINS

JACKSON

JEFFERSON

JESSAMINE

KENTON

KNOX

LARUE

LAUREL

LEE

LE

LEWI

LINCOLN

LIVINGSTON

LOGAN

LYON

MCCRACKEN

MCCREARY

MCLEAN

MADISON 

MARION

MARSHALL

MASON

MEADE MENIFEE

MERCER

METCALFE

MONROE

MONTGOMERY

M

MUHLENBERG

NELSON

NICHOLAS

OHIO

OLDHAM

OWEN

OWSLEY

PENDLETON

POWELL

PULASKI

ROBERTSON

ROCKCASTLE

ROWA

RUSSELL

SCOTT

SHELBY

SIMPSON

SPENCER

TAYLOR

TODD

TRIGG

TRIMBLE

UNION

WARREN

WASHINGTON

WAYNE

WEBSTER

WHITLEY

WOLFE

WOODFORD

Kentucky Counties Served by DRA

Ballard

Caldwell

Calloway

Carlisle

Christian

Crittenden

Fulton

Graves

Henderson

Hickman

Hopkins

Livingston

Lyon

Marshall

McCracken

McLean

Muhlenberg

Todd

Trigg

Union

Webster

FY 2014 DRA Service Area

DRA projects funded prior to FY 2014

DRA projects funded during FY 2014

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 60
Total DRA projects 64

DRA Investment $ 11,361,895

Other Public Investment $ 88,109,760

Other Private Investment $ 127,195,000

Overall Total Investment $ 226,666,655

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 18.95

Jobs Created 1,030

Jobs Retained 966

Families Affected 26

Projected Jobs Created 487

Projected Jobs Retained 362

Projected Families Affected 7,316

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

“The Delta Regional Authority plays an integral role in supporting projects

in our western Kentucky communities that will boost both short-term

and long-term economic growth and development.”

- Governor Steve Beshear

Cumulative Kentucky Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2002 through FY 2014.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 61
Kentucky Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2014.

Total DRA projects 9

DRA Investment $ 867,003

Other Public Investment $ 187,143

Overall Total Investment $ 1,054,146

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 0.22

Projected Jobs Created 65

Projected Families Affected 7,320

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

“With the passage of the Workforce Innovation 

and Opportunity Act, Kentucky’s workforce

professionals and partners are being challenged

to retool and re-engineer. The resources made 

available by the Delta Regional Authority can be a 

catalyst in that continuous improvement process.”

- Beth Brinly, Workforce Investment Commissioner

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 62
Kentucky DRA % of total Public Private Total Ratio Assessment ROI

2002 $ 2,500,000 $ 8,598,715 $ 24,800,000 $ 35,898,715 13.4:1 51,766$ 4729%

2003 $ 560,432 $ 5,326,518 $ 7,100,000 $ 12,986,950 22.2:1 59,975$ 834%

2004 $ 334,164 $ 298,713 $ 86,000,000 $ 86,632,877 258.3:1 48,000$ 596%

2005 $ 380,000 $ 880,000 $ - $ 1,260,000 2.3:1 63,451$ 499%

2006 $ 449,240 $ 742,560 $ - $ 1,191,800 1.7:1 69,385$ 547%

2007 $ 704,604 $ 25,116,339 $ 7,500,000 $ 33,320,943 46.3:1 56,382$ 1150%

2008 $ 330,000 $ 48,375 $ - $ 378,375 0.1:1 62,106$ 431%

2009 $ 1,177,709 $ 21,659,083 $ - $ 22,836,792 18.4:1 63,040$ 1768%

2010 $ 706,725 $ 11,280,800 $ - $ 11,987,525 16.0:1 65,998$ 971%

2011 $ 980,228 $ 8,438,225 $ - $ 9,418,453 8.6:1 66,214$ 1380%

2012 $ 1,381,897 $ 167,551 $ 150,000 $ 1,699,448 0.2:1 70,828$ 1851%

2013 $ 989,893 $ 5,365,738 $ 1,645,000 $ 8,000,631 7.1:1 64,872$ 1426%

2014 $ 867,003 $ 187,143 $ - $ 1,054,146 0.2:1 78,520$ 1004%

DRA $ 11,361,895

Public $ 88,109,760

Private $ 127,195,000

Total $ 226,666,655

Total Projects 64

Leverage Comparisons

Cumulative Totals: FY02-FY14 Small state assessments, translate into large returns!!

STATES' RETURN ON DRA INVESTMENTS - Kentucky

FISCAL YEARS 2002 THROUGH 2014

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

DRA

Public

Private

4729%

834% 596% 499% 547%

1150%

431%

1768%

971%

1380%

1851%

1426%

1004%

0%

1000%

2000%

3000%

4000%

5000%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

5%

39%

56%

DRA

Public

Private

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 63
Kentucky: Murray Retail Development 

 

Awardee: City of Murray Federal ID#: 61-6001881 

 

Awardee Contact: Bill Wells Phone: 270-762-0300 

 

County: Callaway Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $89,003 38.22%

Applicant $143,850 61.78%

Total $232,853 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will ensure the installation of water, sewer, storm drainage, and entrance road to 

a private development. 

Benefits: This project will spur more than $9 million in private investment, create more than 50 new jobs 

and enhance the economic development of the community. 

Kentucky: Union County Flood Protection System 

 

Awardee: Union County Fiscal Court Federal ID#: 61-6000887 

 

Awardee Contact: Jody Jenkins Phone: 270-389-1081 

 

County: Union Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $164,001 89.04%

Applicant $20,196 10.96%

Total $184,197 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will provide for the placement of new water valves and meters, enabling the city 

to isolate sections of the system to facilitate the location and repair of water leaks. 

Benefits: The intended outcome of the project is to maintain the structural integrity of the flood 

protection system, to provide safety to the city of Uniontown’s approximately 1,100 residents and 

numerous businesses. Another outcome of the project will be the recertification of the flood protection 

system by the US Army Corps of Engineers. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 64
Kentucky: Webster County Fiscal Court Tower Project 

 

Awardee: Webster Fiscal Court Federal ID#: 61-6000887 

 

Awardee Contact: James Townsend Phone: 270-389-1081 

 

County: Webster Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $125,000 84.40%

Other $23,097 15.60%

Total $148,097 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will assist in the purchase, construction, and installation of a 180-foot 

communications tower for emergency communications capabilities and broadband service. 

Benefits: This project will ensure the communications capabilities of Webster County’s emergency 

services, provide all necessary communications upgrades, and complete a multi-year communications 

project. It will also benefit nine fire departments, five rescue squads, four police departments, two 

ambulance services and the county emergency management agency, which will help to keep residents and 

emergency workers safer in their communities. 

Kentucky: Trenton Water and Sewer Line Extension Project 

 

Awardee: City of Trenton Federal ID#: 61-0704644 

 

Awardee Contact: JoAnn Holder Phone: 270-466-3332 

 

County: Todd Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $50,000 100.00%

Total $50,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used for the extension of water and sewer lines to an industrial site for a 

company that is constructing a new canola seed crushing facility. 

Benefits: This project will allow for the creation of approximately 10-15 jobs in the area through a newly 

located industry. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 65
Kentucky: Earlington Water System Improvements 

 

Awardee: City of Earlington Federal ID#: 61-6001811 

 

Awardee Contact: Mike Seiber Phone: 270-383-5364 

 

County: Hopkins Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $30,000 100.00%

Total $30,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used for the installation of valves in the city of Earlington's water system 

to facilitate leak detection and repairs. 

Benefits: The project will reduce the amount of water that is lost to unrepaired leaks and decrease the 

amount of man-hours spent looking for leaks. It will also reduce the amount the city has to spend on lost 

water and will allow personnel to take a more proactive approach in maintaining and upgrading the 

current system. 

Kentucky: Collaborative Care Practices 

 

Awardee: Madisonville Community College Federal ID#: 61-1320380 

 

Awardee Contact: Judith Rhoads Phone: 270-824-8633 

 

County: Hopkins Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $74,001 100.00%

Total $74,001 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will enable Madisonville Community College to partner with Baptist Health 

Madisonville to create a high-fidelity simulation-learning environment with a new high-fidelity manikin. 

Benefits: By January 2016, Madisonville Community College will have equipped a simulation lab at 

Baptist Health Madisonville where there has not previously been the ability for training. The lab will help 

the hospital recruit additional medical staff and provide increased quality of care to area residents. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 66
Kentucky: Trigg County Health Department Renovation 

 

Awardee: Trigg County Fiscal Court Federal ID#: 61-6000722 

 

Awardee Contact: Hollis Alexander Phone: 270-522-8459 

 

County: Trigg Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 100.00%

Total $100,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will assist the Trigg County Health Department in the demolition of 50+ yearold equipment and flooring and the installation of new equipment, flooring, cabinets, tables, lighting, 

paint, and a backup generator for the vaccine cooler. 

Benefits: The chief benefit derived from this project will be the ability of the Trigg County Health 

Department to serve the low-income individuals and families of Trigg County with quality healthcare in 

an updated facility. Additionally, the project will result in the retention of approximately eight jobs at the 

Trigg County Health Department. 

Kentucky: Mortons Gap System Improvements Project 

 

Awardee: City of Mortons Gap Federal ID#: 61-6001877 

 

Awardee Contact: Frank Stafford Phone: 270-258-5362 

 

County: Trigg Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $35,000 100.00%

Total $35,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will assist in the placement of new valves and meters to enable the city to 

isolate sections of the system to facilitate the location and repair of water leaks. 

Benefits: The project will reduce the amount of water that is lost to unrepaired leaks and decrease the 

number of man-hours spent looking for leaks. It will reduce the amount the city has to spend on 

unaccounted water and allow personnel to work on maintaining and upgrading the current system. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 67
Kentucky: Barlow Wastewater Improvement 

 

Awardee: City of Barlow Federal ID#: 61-6001781 

 

Awardee Contact: John Wood Phone: 270-334-3500 

 

County: Ballard Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $200,000 100.00%

Total $200,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will provide for the improvements to two lift stations, construction of 3,800 

linear feet of 8-inch gravity sewer lines, 1,700 linear feet of force mains, and lateral services. 

Benefits: This project will assist the city in creating a better overall wastewater system to serve its 

customers in Barlow and the surrounding area of Ballard County. It will provide a better quality of life for 

the residents of the community and help conserve the natural resources in the surrounding area. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 68

DRA Projects in Louisiana

ST. MARTIN

ST. MARTIN

ACADIA

ALLEN

ASCENSION

ASSUMPTION

AVOYELLES

BEAUREGARD

BIENVILLE

BOSSIER

CADDO

CALCASIEU

CALDWELL

CAMERON

CATAHOULA

CLAIBORNE

CONCORDIA

DE SOTO

EAST

BATON

ROUGE

EAST

CARROLL

EAST

FELICIANA

EVANGELINE

FRANKLIN

GRANT

IBERIA

IBERVILLE

JACKSON

JEFFERSON

JEFFERSON

DAVIS

LAFAYETTE

LAFOURCHE

LA SALLE

LINCOLN

LIVINGSTON

MADISON

MOREHOUSE

NATCHITOCHES

ORLEANS

OUACHITA

PLAQUEMINES

POINTE

COUPEE

RAPIDES

RED

RIVER

RICHLAND

SABINE

ST. BERNARD

ST. CHARLES

ST.

HELENA

ST. JAMES

ST. JOHN

THE BAPTIST

ST. LANDRY

ST. MARY

ST. TAMMANY

TANGIPAHOA

TENSAS

TERREBONNE

UNION

VERMILION

VERNON

WASHINGTON

WEBSTER

WEST BATON

ROUGE

WEST

CARROLL

WEST

FELICIANA

WINN

Louisiana Parishes Served by DRA

Acadia 

Allen 

Ascension

Assumption

Avoyelles

Beauregard

Bienville 

Caldwell 

Cameron

Catahoula 

Claiborne

Concordia

De Soto 

East Baton 

Rouge

East Carroll 

East Feliciana 

Evangeline 

Franklin

Grant 

Iberia 

Iberville 

Jackson 

Jefferson

Jefferson Davis 

La Salle 

Lafourche

Lincoln 

Livingston

Madison 

Morehouse 

Natchitoches 

Orleans 

Ouachita 

Plaquemines 

Pointe Coupee 

Rapides 

Red River

Richland 

St. Bernard 

St. Charles 

St. Helena

St. James

St. John the Baptist

St. Landry 

St. Martin 

St. Mary 

Tangipahoa 

Tensas 

Union

Vermillion

Washington 

Webster

West Baton Rouge

West Carroll

West Feliciana

Winn

FY 2014 DRA Service Area

DRA projects funded prior to FY 2014

DRA projects funded during FY 2014

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 69
Total DRA projects 185

DRA Investment $ 23,282,914

Other Public Investment $ 95,960,857

Other Private Investment $ 765,450,000

Overall Total Investment $ 884,693,771

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 37.00

Jobs Created 1,735

Jobs Retained 1,538

Individuals Trained for Jobs 27

Families Affected 8,875

Projected Jobs Created 4,755

Projected Jobs Retained 1,559

Projected Individuals Trained for Jobs 164

Projected Families Affected 12,935

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

“Our nation’s infrastructure impacts our lives every day, and it needs

attention and updates. Making sure it’s up-to-date will continue to be a

top priority, and these DRA investments will certainly help Louisiana move

forward and accommodate our state’s growth.”

- U.S. Senator David Vitter

Cumulative Louisiana Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2002 through FY 2014.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 70
Louisiana Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2014.

Total DRA projects 14

DRA Investment $ 1,721,438

Other Public Investment $ 1,952,015

Other Private Investment $ 50,000

Overall Total Investment $ 3,723,453

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 1.16

Projected Jobs Created 29

Projected Jobs Retained 254

Projected Individuals Trained for Jobs 87

Projected Families Affected 4,776

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

“Delta Regional Authority has played one of 

the most important roles in the support they 

have given Vidalia with our economic growth. 

Partnering with us on Mississippi River Cities 

and Towns Initiative has been pivotal to helping 

Vidalia receive recognition and funding for many 

projects. DRA investments have helped us

complete construction, develop the new Vidalia 

port, and secure a commitment of $100 million 

from a local development company. We look 

forward to our continued partnership with Delta 

Regional Authority.”

 - Hyram Copeland, Mayor of Vidalia

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 71
Louisiana DRA %	of	total Public Private Total Ratio Assessment ROI

2002 $							4,941,253 $					10,201,243 $																											- $								15,142,496 2.1:1 $							123,244 3909%

2003 $							1,034,324 $					12,679,750 $						175,000,000 $						188,714,074 181.5:1 $							105,577 880%

2004 $										 761,728 $							6,268,404 $																											- $										7,030,132 8.2:1 $									98,637 672%

2005 $										 415,749 $							1,027,850 $										5,095,000 $										6,538,599 14.7:1 $							133,749 211%

2006 $							1,556,966 $							7,514,704 $														625,000 $										9,696,670 5.2:1 $							146,258 965%

2007 $							1,574,662 $							7,601,707 $						200,000,000 $						209,176,369 131.8:1 $							130,958 1102%

2008 $							1,736,038 $							2,533,823 $																											- $										4,269,861 1.5:1 $							144,255 1103%

2009 $							2,010,805 $							1,767,636 $																											- $										3,778,441 0.9:1 $							162,578 1137%

2010 $							2,140,788 $					10,944,193 $																											- $								13,084,981 5.1:1 $							132,862 1511%

2011 $							2,010,248 $					20,352,893 $										4,680,000 $								27,043,141 12.5:1 $							130,409 1441%

2012 $							1,734,438 $					10,945,631 $						207,000,000 $						219,680,069 125.7:1 $							139,496 1143%

2013 $							1,644,478 $							2,171,008 $						173,000,000 $						176,815,486 106.5:1 $							132,346 1143%

2014 $							1,721,438 $							1,952,015 $																50,000 $										3,723,453 1.2:1 $							148,470 1059%

DRA $													23,282,915

Public $													95,960,857

Private $											765,450,000

Total $											884,693,772

Total	Projects 185

Leverage Comparisons

Cumulative Totals: FY02-FY14 Small	state	assessments,	translate	into	large	returns!!

STATES' RETURN ON DRA INVESTMENTS - Louisiana

FISCAL	YEARS	2002	THROUGH	2014

0%	 10%	 20%	 30%	 40%	 50%	 60%	 70%	 80%	 90%	 100%	

2002	

2004	

2006	

2008	

2010	

2012	

2014	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

3909%	

880%	 672%	

211%	

965%	 1102%	 1103%	 1137%	

1511%	 1441%	 1143%	 1143%	 1059%	

0%	

1000%	

2000%	

3000%	

4000%	

5000%	

2002	 2003	 2004	 2005	 2006	 2007	 2008	 2009	 2010	 2011	 2012	 2013	 2014	

3%	11%	

86%	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 72
Louisiana: Village of Forest Water Well 

 

Awardee: Village of Forest Federal ID#: 72-0920241 

 

Awardee Contact: Larry Denmon Phone: 318-428-9058 

 

Parish: West Carroll Congressional District: 5

Funding: 

DRA $110,000 30.56%

CDBG $250,000 69.44%

Total $360,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will aid in the installation of a new water well for the village's potable water 

system and capping of an inoperable well. 

Benefits/Outcomes: The project will ensure the reliability of the water system for the customers served 

by the Village of Forest Water System. By installing the new water well the system will come into 

compliance with Section 3.2.1.2 of the Recommended Standards for Water Works ensuring 

approximately 2,200 citizens clean water. 

Louisiana: Lake Providence Port Rail Extension 

 

Awardee: Lake Providence Port Commission Federal ID#: 72-0571915 

 

Awardee Contact: James Thom Phone: 318-559-2365 

 

Parish: East Carroll Congressional District: 5

Funding: 

DRA $210,000 100.00%

Total $210,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to extend a current rail line to accommodate the Myriant Succinic 

Acid Bio Refinery Plant. Through a collaborative effort with Southeast Arkansas Economic 

Development District, the Port Commission rail line is part of a $5 million rehabilitation project that will 

result in bringing the rail into operable status. 

Benefits: While the most immediate impact of the project is the retention of 50 full-time employees, these 

improvements will also provide a cost-effective shipping option for industries in northeast Louisiana and 

southeast Arkansas and will provide the area with a competitive edge in attracting industries. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 73
Louisiana: GIS Infrastructure for Tensas Assessor’s Office 

 

Awardee: Tensas Parish Assessor’s Office Federal ID#: 72-6001387 

 

Awardee Contact: Donna Ratcliff Phone: 318-766-3501 

 

Parish: Tensas Congressional District: 5

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 100.00%

Total $100,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to update assessment software technology to integrate computerassisted mass appraisal with GIS, acquire current pictometry, and update hardware. 

Benefits: Tensas Parish Assessor’s Office is responsible for the property values of 5,869 assessments. 

This IT Expansion Project will allow the integration of CAMA and GIS data, resulting in the 5,869 

assessments being more uniformly assessed. Fair and accurate assessments affect individual taxpayers as 

well as businesses and generate appropriate revenue to the local taxing bodies. 

Louisiana: ULM Unmanned Aerial Systems 

 

Awardee: University of Louisiana Monroe Federal ID#: 72-0920241 

 

Awardee Contact: Leonard Clark Phone: 318-342-1887 

 

Parish: Ouachita Congressional District: 5

Funding: 

DRA $110,000 95.56%

CDBG $5,106 4.44%

Total $115,106 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to provide training seminars on precision ag with an emphasis on 

unmanned aerial systems (UAS). There will be two types of training seminars: a two-day hands-on 

seminar with field components and a one-day demonstration with limited field components. The main 

focus of these seminars is to train farmers, crop consultants, business entrepreneurs and others interested 

in agriculture on how to integrate unmanned aerial systems into existing precision agriculture techniques. 

Benefits: The use of UAS will ultimately increase agricultural productivity towards higher yields, higher 

quality crops,and less chemical applications. These seminars will create a workforce that is capable of 

using the latest technologies in UAS applications. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 74
Louisiana: GIS Infrastructure for Morehouse Assessor’s Office 

 

Awardee: Morehouse Parish Assessor’s Office Federal ID#: 72-6000910 

 

Awardee Contact: John C. Hill Phone: 318-281-1802 

 

Parish: Morehouse Congressional District: 5

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 83.33%

Applicant $20,000 16.67%

Total $120,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to update assessment software technology to integrate computerassisted mass appraisal with GIS, acquire current pictometry, and update hardware.

Benefits: Morehouse Assessor’s Office is responsible for the property values of 6,000 assessments. This 

IT Expansion Project will allow the integration of CAMA and GIS data, resulting in the 6,000 

assessments being more uniformly assessed. Fair and accurate assessments affect individual taxpayers as 

well as businesses and generate appropriate revenue to the local taxing bodies. 

Louisiana: South First Street Sewer 

 

Awardee: City of Monroe Federal ID#: 72-6000903 

 

Awardee Contact: Chris Fisher Phone: 318-329-2331 

 

Parish: Ouachita Congressional District: 2

Funding: 

DRA $71,859 100.00%

Total $71,859 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be utilized in the replacement of collapsed sewer infrastructure on private 

properties thathave been donated to the city. 

Benefits/Outcomes: This project will remove a health hazard affecting the entire community. The 

project will provide efficient and safe sewage service to six homes and will protect the whole community 

for several city blocks from exposure to conditions that pose hazardous health risks. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 75
Louisiana: Louisiana Business and Technology Center 

 

Awardee: Louisiana State University Federal ID#: 72-6000848 

 

Awardee Contact: Winona Ward Phone: 225-578-7555 

 

Parish: East Baton Rouge Congressional District: 2, 6

Funding: 

DRA $95,000 90.48%

Applicant $10,000 9.52%

Total $104,999 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to jumpstart a prototype center—an entrepreneurial center focused 

on giving small business owners and entrepreneurs the tools needed to design and build new products. 

Benefits: This project will benefit the entrepreneurial community in Louisiana by giving small 

businesses the ability to create rapid prototypes and computer renderings. The prototype center will spur 

innovation in small businesses and offer the client a more effective opportunity for success in the 

commercialization of their products. This will allow a culture of innovative products to be fostered and 

developed in Louisiana. 

Louisiana: Brown’s Dairy Infrastructure Improvements 

 

Awardee: City of New Orleans Federal ID#: 72-6000969 

 

Awardee Contact: Aimee Quirk Phone: 504-658-4248 

 

Parish: Orleans Congressional District: 2

Funding: 

DRA $47,579 89.62%

Applicant $5,509 10.38%

Total $53,088 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used for public and transportation infrastructure upgrades surrounding 

the Brown's Dairy facility in central New Orleans, funding industrial strength streets, sidewalk 

improvements, and catch basins. 

Benefits: With DRA’s investment, 194 jobs will be retained, and a growing institution will remain in the 

city. New Orleans will enjoy improved transportation infrastructure and safety, and the project will ensure 

the local distribution of milk to the community. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 76
Louisiana: Golden Meadow Floodwall Phase 3 

 

Awardee: Town of Golden Meadow Federal ID#: 72-0882290 

 

Awardee Contact: Joey Bouziga Phone: 985-475-5163 

 

Parish: Lafourche Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $150,000 10.73%

FEMA $1,048,500 75.00%

Applicant $199,500 14.27%

Total $1,398,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be utilized in the refurbishment and improvement of an existing floodwall 

to enhance business and community safety. 

Benefits: The Golden Meadow seawall refurbishment will protect 881 homes and 82 commercial 

properties located in the municipality. The project will support continued infill development within an 

existing community and develop a stronger tax base for Golden Meadow. 

Louisiana: Feliciana Airpark Business Development Complex

 

Awardee: East Feliciana Parish Dept. of Econ. Development Federal ID#: 41-2194319 

 

Awardee Contact: Larry Thomas Phone: 225-921-1823 

 

Parish: East Feliciana Congressional District: 5, 6

Funding: 

DRA $200,000 100.00%

Total $200,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used in the construction of a common use aviation business development 

facility, which will provide small businesses and entrepreneurs a foundation to build their businesses. 

Benefits: The construction of the Aviation Business Development Complex will result in an increase in 

the expansion of general aviation businesses. The general aviation industry has suffered a decline due to 

increased facility fees and therefore limiting opportunities for new aviation business startup. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 77
Louisiana: GIS Infrastructure for Concordia Parish 

 

Awardee: Concordia Parish Assessor’s Office Federal ID#: 72-6015757 

 

Awardee Contact: Jerry Clark Phone: 318-336-5122 

 

Parish: Concordia Congressional District: 5

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 53.36%

Applicant $87,400 46.64%

Total $187,400 100.00%

Description: DRA’s investment will fund GIS mapping infrastructure for public safety and strategic 

development. This project will establish an online tool allowing collaborative efforts sponsored and led 

by the Concordia Parish Assessor’s Office to advance competitiveness of the area with cutting-edge GIS 

infrastructure. The GIS software will allow for layer conversion and expanded attribute database inputs. 

Benefits: Installation and operation of the GIS infrastructure will advance the collaboration and 

effectiveness of the parish, stimulating private investment. 

Louisiana: Reintroducing Lafayette Area Development District 

 

Awardee: South Central Planning & Development Commission Federal ID#: 72-0721574 

 

Awardee Contact: Kevin Belanger Phone: 985-851-2900 

 

Parish: St. Landry Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 83.33%

Applicant $20,000 16.67%

Total $120,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used by South Central Planning & Development Commission to fund 

staff and travel, allowing employees to meet with local jurisdictions and conduct SWOT analyses related 

to the jurisdiction’s staffing needs to rebuild the Lafayette Area Development District. 

Benefits: SCPDC’s efforts with the local parishes will help to reconstitute the former LADD to manage 

existing underutilized resources such as the Revolving Capital Fund Program to benefit citizen 

entrepreneurs within their areas. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 78
Louisiana: Elevated Water Storage Tanks Blasting & Repairs 

 

Awardee: Town of Bernice Federal ID#: 72-0721356 

 

Awardee Contact: William Mitcham Phone: 985-851-3265 

 

Parish: Union Congressional District: 4

Funding: 

DRA $250,000 49.50%

Applicant $255,000 50.50%

Total $505,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used for blasting, repairs, and lead paint abatement of two of three 

elevated water tanks owned by the town of Bernice. The funding is necessary to satisfy requirements and 

meet mandated repairs and timelines levied on November 9, 2011 by the Louisiana Department of Health 

and the US Environmental Protection Agency. 

Benefits: The refurbishment of the tanks will ensure clean water for the Bernice population of 1,689 that 

rely on the town’s water supply system for potable water. 

Louisiana: Pipelining Skills to Jobs in Greater New Orleans 

 

Awardee: Greater New Orleans Development Foundation Federal ID#: 72-1177207 

 

Awardee Contact: Michael Hecht Phone: 504-527-6900 

 

Parish: Orleans Congressional District: 2

Funding: 

DRA $75,000 59.52%

State $51,000 40.48%

Total $126,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be utilized to help connect low-income residents (approximately 1,000-

1,500 high school students) with jobs and satisfy industry demand for a workforce to fill specific 

positions. 

Benefits: A total of 80 low-income residents will be connected with career pathways in skilled-labor 

fields to build a workforce pipeline to satisfy industry demand for a skilled workforce in New Orleans.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 79

DRA Projects in Mississippi

ADAMS

ALCORN

AMITE

ATTALA

BENTON

BOLIVAR

CALHOUN

CARROLL

CHICKASAW

CHOCTAW

CLAIBORNE

CLARKE

CLAY

COAHOMA

COPIAH

COVINGTON

DE SOTO

FORREST

FRANKLIN

GEORGE

GREENE

GRENADA

HANCOCK

HARRISON

HINDS

HOLMES

HUMPHREYS

ISSAQUENA

ITAWAMBA

JACKSON

JASPER

JEFFERSON

DAVIS

JONES

KEMPER

LAFAYETTE

LAMAR

LAUDERDALE

LAWRENCE

LEAKE

LEE

LEFLORE

LINCOLN

LOWNDES

MADISON

MARION

MARSHALL

MONROE

MONTGOMERY

NESHOBA

NEWTON

NOXUBEE

OKTIBBEHA

PANOLA

PEARL RIVER

PERRY

PIKE

PONTOTOC

PRENTISS

QUITMAN

RANKIN

SCOTT

SHARKEY

SIMPSON

SMITH

STONE

SUNFLOWER

TALLAHATCHIE

TATE

TIPPAH

TISHOMINGO

TUNICA

UNION

WALTHALL

WARREN

WASHINGTON

WAYNE

WEBSTER

WILKINSON

WINSTON

YALOBUSHA

YAZOO

JEFFERSON

Mississippi Counties Served by DRA

Adams

Amite

Attala

Benton

Bolivar

Carroll

Claiborne

Coahoma

Copiah

Covington

DeSoto

Franklin

Grenada

Hinds

Holmes

Humphreys

Issaquena

Jasper

Jefferson

Jefferson Davis

Jones

Lafayette

Lawrence

Leflore

Lincoln

Madison

Marion

Marshall

Montgomery

Panola

Pearl River

Pike

Quitman

Rankin

Sharkey

Simpson

Smith

Sunflower

Tallahatchie

Tate

Tippah

Tunica

Union

Walthall

Warren

Washington

Wilkinson

Yalobusha

Yazoo

FY 2014 DRA Service Area

DRA projects funded prior to FY 2014

DRA projects funded during FY 2014

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 80
“These [DRA] investments will facilitate economic development in each

of the local communities and pay dividends for the area’s workforce. 

This will not only provide opportunities for growth of existing businesses,

but also help to attract other companies to Mississippi.”

- Governor Phil Bryant

Cumulative Mississippi Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2002 through FY 2014.

Total DRA projects 117

DRA Investment $ 18,042,075

Other Public Investment $ 86,469,659

Other Private Investment $ 266,796,694

Overall Total Investment $ 371,308,428

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 19.58

Jobs Created 730

Jobs Retained 566

Individuals Trained for Jobs 105

Families Affected 2,771

Projected Jobs Created 1,168

Projected Jobs Retained 650

Projected Individuals Trained for Jobs 216

Projected Families Affected 10,318

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 81
Mississippi Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2014.

Total DRA projects 9

DRA Investment $ 1,336,206

Other Public Investment $ 1,010,078

Other Private Investment $ 1,248,825

Overall Total Investment $ 3,595,109

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 1.69

Projected Jobs Created 10

Projected Jobs Retained 120

Projected Families Affected 5,193

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

“Encouraging everyone to have the skills 

necessary to succeed in the workplace is vital

to creating an environment where not only 

workers, but also businesses can thrive. We look 

forward to working with the Delta Regional

Authority to make our workers and our

businesses increasingly competitive, and

ultimately, successful.”

- Jay Moon, CEO and President of the

Mississippi Manufacturers Association

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 82
Mississippi DRA %	of	total Public Private Total Ratio Assessment ROI

2002 $							3,880,756 $					11,143,528 $																								- $								15,024,284 2.9:1 $									83,053 4573%

2003 $										 620,500 $							2,097,057 $																								- $										2,717,557 3.4:1 $									96,223 545%

2004 $										 188,365 $							1,413,517 $																								- $										1,601,882 7.5:1 $									77,011 145%

2005 $										 570,309 $							1,321,567 $							3,100,000 $										4,991,876 7.8:1 $									97,188 487%

2006 $							1,209,484 $							3,951,012 $							7,500,000 $								12,660,496 9.5:1 $							106,278 1038%

2007 $							1,283,830 $							9,389,977 $					90,000,000 $						100,673,807 77.4:1 $									89,827 1329%

2008 $							1,560,956 $							2,048,944 $										 200,822 $										3,810,722 1.4:1 $									98,946 1478%

2009 $							1,459,985 $					12,348,732 $							1,250,000 $								15,058,717 9.3:1 $									97,518 1397%

2010 $							1,637,589 $					25,634,802 $					65,000,000 $								92,272,391 55.3:1 $							105,668 1450%

2011 $							1,482,253 $							5,703,914 $																								- $										7,186,167 3.8:1 $							105,957 1299%

2012 $							1,469,295 $										 639,316 $							1,641,000 $										3,749,611 1.6:1 $							113,341 1196%

2013 $							1,342,547 $							9,767,215 $					96,856,047 $						107,965,809 79.4:1 $							111,943 1099%

2014 $							1,336,206 $							1,010,078 $							1,248,825 $										3,595,109 1.7:1 $							117,300 1039%

DRA $													18,042,075

Public $													86,469,659

Private $											266,796,694

Total $											371,308,428

Total	Projects 117

Leverage Comparisons

Cumulative Totals: FY02-FY14 Small	state	assessments,	translate	into	large	returns!!

STATES' RETURN ON DRA INVESTMENTS - Mississippi

FISCAL	YEARS	2002	THROUGH	2014

0%	 10%	 20%	 30%	 40%	 50%	 60%	 70%	 80%	 90%	 100%	

2002	

2004	

2006	

2008	

2010	

2012	

2014	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

4573%	

545%	

145%	

487%	

1038%	 1329%	 1478%	 1397%	 1450%	 1299%	 1196%	 1099%	 1039%	

0%	

1000%	

2000%	

3000%	

4000%	

5000%	

2002	 2003	 2004	 2005	 2006	 2007	 2008	 2009	 2010	 2011	 2012	 2013	 2014	

5%	

23%	

72%	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 83
Mississippi: Como Wastewater Treatment Facility 

 

Awardee: Town of Como Federal ID#: 64-6000285 

 

Awardee Contact: Everette Hill Phone: 662-561-4100 

 

County: Panola Congressional District: 2

Funding: 

DRA $150,000 100.00%

Total $150,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used for improvements to a wastewater treatment facility to include site 

work, pipe, disinfection system, post treatment aeration, and electrical work, which will help bring the 

town into DEQ compliance. 

Benefits: This project will reduce health threats due to untreated raw sewage exposure, bring the town 

into compliance with the NPDES permit, and bring the treatment facility to an operational status that will 

properly treat the raw sewage before being discharged. The town will also be able to meet the 

requirements of the MDEQ Agreed Order. 

Mississippi: Tunica Sewer Improvements 

 

Awardee: Town of Tunica Federal ID#: 64-6001132 

 

Awardee Contact: Chuck Cariker Phone: 662-326-2432 

 

County: Tunica Congressional District: 2

Funding: 

DRA $41,504 90.00%

Applicant $4,612 10.00%

Total $46,116 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used for improvements to a wastewater treatment facility. These 

improvements include rehabilitation of the levee system controlling the wastewater in the lagoon, 

restoration of the gravel road along the top of the levee, and the removal and replacement of two electric 

poles. 

Benefits: The town’s residents will not be threatened with health issues due to untreated raw sewage 

exposure if the levee break, and the town’s lagoon levee will be improved in order to handle the pressure 

from the lagoon water. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 84
Mississippi: Industrial Road

 

Awardee: City of Bay Springs Federal ID#: 64-0663638 

 

Awardee Contact: J. E. Smith Phone: 601-764-4112 

 

County: Jasper Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $200,000 85.03%

Applicant $35,211 14.97%

Total $235,211 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used for road improvements to convert a residential street into an 

industrial street. The street will benefit a local homegrown industry that employs more than 500 workers 

in Bay Spring. The company, Hol-Mac, has four plants located throughout the city. 

Benefits: This project will benefit the 120 workers of Hol-Mac Plant #1. The completion of the project 

will result in the creation of five new jobs with a wage rate greater than or equal to $15 per hour. The 

people employed by Hol-Mac are highly trained individuals and can receive training at the Jasper County 

Workforce Training Center (Jones Junior College), which is currently being constructed using DRA, 

EDA, Jasper County and other funding sources. The company will make a $15,000 private investment. 

Mississippi: Indianola Grocery Store 

 

Awardee: City of Indianola Federal ID#: 64-6000482 

 

Awardee Contact: Steve Rosenthal Phone: 662-887-3101 

 

County: Sunflower Congressional District: 2

Funding: 

DRA $364,230 90.00%

Applicant $40,470 10.00%

Total $404,700 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to renovate a city-owned building to be leased to a grocery store. 

Improvements include roof replacement, electrical, heating & air, insulation, flooring, suspended ceiling, 

façade replacement, and entry and delivery doors. 

Benefits/Outcomes: Upon completion of the renovation, Turner Cash Saver, Inc. will lease the building 

from the city and open a cash-saver grocery store that will employ 15 people and provide grocery options 

for downtown residents. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 85
Mississippi: Primary Care Clinic 

 

Awardee: Aaron E. Henry Community Health Services Center Federal ID#: 64-0624495 

 

Awardee Contact: Aurelia J. Taylor Phone: 662-624-4292 

 

County: Tate Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 14.62%

USDA $50,000 7.31%

HRSA $150,000 21.94%

Applicant $383,825 56.13%

Total $683,825 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be utilized in site preparation and equipment purchase for a new 5,000 

square-foot primary care clinic in Tate County. 

Benefits: The clinic will provide quality healthcare on a sliding fee basis regardless of ability to pay. 

Mississippi: I-69/269 Corridor Economic Development

Awardee: DeSoto County Economic Development Corporation Federal ID#: 64-0616656 

 

Awardee Contact: Jim Flanagan Phone: 662-561-4100 

 

County: DeSoto Congressional District: 2

Funding: 

DRA $52,631 34.48%

EDA $70,000 45.86%

Applicant $30,000 19.66%

Total $152,631 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used for a regional marketing study, toolkit, and action plan for 

economic development along the future I-69/269 Corridor in DeSoto, Marshall, and Tunica counties. 

Benefits: The project will expand the initial strategic plan that was completed for the corridor to focus on 

developing a marketing plan on the economic prospects and potential new jobs that will benefit the entire 

I-69/269 corridor in the three counties. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 86
Mississippi: City of Holly Springs Emergency Sewer Lagoon 

 

Awardee: City of Holly Springs Federal ID#: 64-0659333 

 

Awardee Contact: Kelvin Buck Phone: 662-252-4652 

 

County: Marshall Congressional District: 1

Funding: 

DRA $150,000 20.00%

DIP $500,000 66.67%

MDEQ $100,000 13.33%

Total $750,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will ensure repairs to existing wastewater facilities, which are currently out of 

compliance with MDEQ. The city proposes to replace existing aerators, acour pads, a 20-horsepower 

aerator, a de-chlorinator chamber, and chlorinator equipment with enclosure, a baffle, and sand filter. 

Benefits: This project will allow for the improved health of 2,527 residential, commercial, and industrial 

users, who will be protected from potential diseases that result from untreated wastewater. Emergency 

upgrades to the non-compliant sewage lagoon due to discharge limits will also be made. 

Mississippi: Lake Hazel Dam Rehabilitation Plan 

 

Awardee: City of Hazlehurst Federal ID#: 64-6000437 

 

Awardee Contact: Henry Banks Phone: 601-894-3131 

 

County: Copiah Congressional District: 2

Funding: 

DRA $201,251 100.00%

Total $201,251 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to bring the city of Hazlehurst into compliance with MDEQ 

requirements for high hazard dams with improvements to the downstream slope and existing spillway. 

Benefits/Outcomes: Addressing the deficiencies noted during past inspections will prevent the dam from 

breaking, which will in turn prevent the loss of property, injury, and potential loss of life to downstream 

residents. The lake offers recreational picnic areas as well as walking trails and fishing opportunities. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 87
Mississippi: Addendum to MS-5586 Panola County

 

Awardee: Panola County Federal ID#: 64-6000940 

 

Awardee Contact: Kelly Morris Phone: 662-563-6200 

 

County: Panola Congressional District: 2

Funding: 

DRA $76,590 72.00%

Applicant $29,785 28.00%

Total $106,375 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to relocate 2,400 linear feet of water line including 6 inch pipe, 

clamps, curb stops, tees, bedding, crushed stone, and fire hydrants. 

Benefits/Outcomes: The benefit of this addendum project is a shallow water line will be relocated to a 

depth that will allow MS-5586 road improvements project to be completed. This water line relocation will 

ensure that the waterline will not break under the traffic that travels along this road. 

DRA Projects in Missouri

ADAIR

ANDREW

ATCHISON

AUDRAIN

BARRY

BARTON

BATES BENTON

BOLLINGER

BOONE

BUCHANAN

BUTLER

CALDWELL

CALLAWAY

CAMDEN

CAPE

GIRARDEAU

CARROLL

CARTER

CASS

CEDAR

CHARITON

CHRISTIAN

CLARK

CLAY

CLINTON

COLE

COOPER

CRAWFORD

DADE

DALLAS

DAVIESS

DE KALB

DENT

DOUGLAS

DUNKLIN

FRANKLIN

GASCONADE

GENTRY

GREENE

GRUNDY

HARRISON

HENRY

HICKORY

HOLT

HOWARD

HOWELL

IRON

JACKSON

JASPER

JEFFERSON

JOHNSON

KNOX

LACLEDE

LAFAYETTE

LAWRENCE

LEWIS

LINCOLN

LINN

LIVINGSTON

MCDONALD

MACON

MADISON

MARIES

MARION

MERCER

MILLER

MISSISSIPPI

MONITEAU

MONROE

MONTGOMERY

MORGAN

NEW MADRID

NEWTON

NODAWAY

OREGON

OSAGE

OZARK

PEMISCOT

PERRY

PETTIS

PHELPS

PIKE

PLATTE

POLK

PULASKI

PUTNAM

RALLS

RANDOLPH

RAY

REYNOLDS

RIPLEY

ST. CHARLES

ST. CLAIR

ST.

GENEVIEVE

ST.

FRANCOIS

ST. LOUIS

SALINE

SCHUYLER

SCOTLAND

SCOTT

SHANNON

SHELBY

STODDARD STONE

SULLIVAN

TANEY

TEXAS

VERNON

WARREN

WASHINGTON

WAYNE

WEBSTER

WORTH

WRIGHT

ST. LOUIS

CITY

Missouri Counties Served by DRA

Bollinger

Butler

Cape Girardeau

Carter 

Crawford

Dent

Douglas

Dunklin

Howell

Iron

Madison

Mississippi

New Madrid

Oregon

Ozark

Pemiscot

Perry

Phelps

Reynolds

Ripley

Scott

Shannon

St. Francois

St. Genevieve

Stoddard

Texas

Washington

Wayne

Wright

FY 2014 DRA Service Area

DRA projects funded prior to FY 2014

DRA projects funded during FY 2014

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 88
“The investments made by the Delta Regional Authority into the people,

businesses, and communities of Southeast Missouri are important to the economic 

success of this region and our state. Projects that build up local infrastructure, 

workforce skills, and health access are essential to a thriving local economy.

This funding moves our communities in the right direction.”

- Governor Jay Nixon

Cumulative Missouri Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2002 through FY 2014.

Total DRA projects 113

DRA Investment $ 14,951,065

Other Public Investment $ 61,630,664

Other Private Investment $ 218,468,030

Overall Total Investment $ 295,049,759

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 18.73

Jobs Created 1,211

Jobs Retained 1,736

Individuals Trained for Jobs 461

Families Affected 1,209

Projected Jobs Created 354

Projected Jobs Retained 3,574

Projected Individuals Trained for Jobs 407

Projected Families Affected 787

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 89
Missouri Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2014.

Total DRA projects 7

DRA Investment $ 1,088,953

Other Public Investment $ 7,426,957

Other Private Investment $ 2,815,000

Overall Total Investment $ 11,330,910

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 9.41

Projected Jobs Created 94

Projected Jobs Retained 61

Projected Individuals Trained for Jobs 50

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

 “For many of our communities in the

Missouri Bootheel DRA funding is what

enables their citizens to achieve a better quality

of life through their investments into economic 

development, workforce development,

community infrastructure, and our local

businesses and entrepreneurs.”

- Missy Marshall, Director of Sikeston Campus, 

Three Rivers College

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 90
Missouri DRA %	of	total Public Private Total Ratio Assessment ROI

2002 $							3,050,952 $							6,327,151 $																											- $										9,378,103 2.1:1 $									68,262 4369%

2003 $										 713,047 $							4,554,250 $																											- $										5,267,297 6.4:1 $									79,087 802%

2004 $										 395,883 $							4,739,349 $										5,500,000 $								10,635,232 25.9:1 $									63,296 525%

2005 $										 750,837 $							5,486,501 $																											- $										6,237,338 7.3:1 $									79,826 841%

2006 $										 624,913 $							1,219,949 $										2,234,000 $										4,078,862 5.5:1 $									87,291 616%

2007 $										 948,122 $							1,658,621 $						169,560,000 $						172,166,743 180.6:1 $									70,542 1244%

2008 $										 728,034 $							2,936,006 $								14,315,030 $								17,979,070 23.7:1 $									77,703 837%

2009 $							1,196,268 $							8,707,245 $								12,000,000 $								21,903,513 17.3:1 $									80,784 1381%

2010 $							1,485,607 $							6,778,956 $																											- $										8,264,563 4.6:1 $									85,328 1641%

2011 $							1,634,745 $							4,668,419 $										9,902,000 $								16,205,164 8.9:1 $									83,669 1854%

2012 $							1,293,874 $							2,668,475 $																											- $										3,962,349 2.1:1 $									89,500 1346%

2013 $							1,039,830 $							4,458,785 $										2,142,000 $										7,640,615 6.3:1 $									83,468 1146%

2014 $							1,088,953 $							7,426,957 $										2,815,000 $								11,330,910 9.4:1 $									94,051 1058%

DRA $													14,951,065

Public $													61,630,664

Private $											218,468,030

Total $											295,049,759

Total	Projects 113

Leverage Comparisons

Cumulative Totals: FY02-FY14 Small	state	assessments,	translate	into	large	returns!!

STATES' RETURN ON DRA INVESTMENTS - Missouri

FISCAL	YEARS	2002	THROUGH	2014

0%	 10%	 20%	 30%	 40%	 50%	 60%	 70%	 80%	 90%	 100%	

2002	

2004	

2006	

2008	

2010	

2012	

2014	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

4369%	

802%	 525%	 841%	 616%	

1244%	

837%	

1381%	 1641%	 1854%	

1346%	 1146%	 1058%	

0%	

1000%	

2000%	

3000%	

4000%	

5000%	

2002	 2003	 2004	 2005	 2006	 2007	 2008	 2009	 2010	 2011	 2012	 2013	 2014	

5%	

21%	

74%	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 91
Missouri: Infrastructure to Facilitate Economic Development 

 

Awardee: City of Steelville Federal ID#: 43-6003613 

 

Awardee Contact: Kerry Palmer Phone: 573-775-2815 

 

County: Crawford Congressional District: 3

Funding: 

DRA $130,300 80.87%

Applicant $30,820 19.13%

Total $161,120 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used by the city of Steelville to extend road and utility services to a new 

lodge and open acreage for development adjacent to the industrial park in support of tourism industry. 

Benefits: Extending the roadway and sewer line will facilitate the location of Bearcat Lodge, which 

intends to create 24 new jobs and invest approximately $2.7 million in construction of the facility. 

Bearcat Lodge will be add capacity to Steelville’s tourism industry. 

Missouri: Missouri Delta Medical Center Emergency Department Expansion 

 

Awardee: Missouri Delta Medical Center Foundation Federal ID#: 43-1577510 

 

Awardee Contact: Marcie Lawson Phone: 573-380-4658 

 

County: Scott Congressional District: 8

Funding: 

DRA $205,320 3.47%

Foundations $5,712,387 96.53%

Total $5,917,707 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be utilized to renovate and expand the medical center’s emergency 

department allowing Missouri Delta Medical Center to better serve area patients. 

Benefits: The emergency department’s expansion will improve patient privacy, decrease left-withoutbeing-seen rate, decrease door-to-doctor wait time, enhance patient satisfaction, enable private entrance 

for the emergency medical service vehicles, and accommodate the project three percent growth of the 

emergency department over the next ten years. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 92
Missouri: Ozark Foothills Development Association Incubator 

 

Awardee: Ozark Foothills Development Association Federal ID#: 43-1464221 

 

Awardee Contact: Felicity Brady Phone: 573-785-6402 

 

County: Butler Congressional District: 8

Funding: 

DRA $200,000 23.26%

EDA $380,520 44.25%

MO DED $229,398 26.68%

RBOG $50,000 5.81%

Total $859,918 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used to expand the current business incubator operated by OFDA to 

provide an additional 10,000 square feet of space for new and growing businesses. 

Benefits: The proposed project will add six business incubator spaces that will be available to new and 

expanding businesses in the five-county Ozark foothills region of southeast Missouri. The business 

incubator is an economic development tool to help improve the success rate of new and expanding firms, 

generate new jobs, and provide lower overhead costs within a shared environment. 

Missouri: Naturally Meramec 

 

Awardee: Meramec Community Enhancement Corporation Federal ID#: 43-1781474 

 

Awardee Contact: Bonnie Prigge Telephone: 573-265-2993 

 

County: Phelps Congressional District: 8

Funding: 

DRA $88,845 100.00%

Total $88,845 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be utilized for the creation of a consortium of agritourism and business 

entities in Crawford, Dent, Phelps, and Washington counties to market and use each other’s products. 

Benefits: The collaboration of the four counties in agritourism and business will include an increase in 

marketing efforts, resulting in increased sales and more jobs. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 93
Missouri: Eminence Industrial Road Improvements 

 

Awardee: City of Eminence Federal ID#: 43-0838624 

 

Awardee Contact: Jim Anderson Phone: 573-226-3717 

 

County: Shannon Congressional District: 8

Funding: 

DRA $214,488 90.00%

Applicant $23,832 10.00%

Total $238,320 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used for the reconstruction and widening of an existing city street that 

serves as the primary access road to a major manufacturing company and the city's fire department. 

Benefits: This project will create three new jobs and retain 29 jobs as well as facilitate the upgrading of 

access roads surrounding Eminence Industrial Park. 

Missouri: Houston Water Tower and Well 

 

Awardee: City of Houston Federal ID#: 44-6005503 

 

Awardee Contact: Ron Reed Phone: 417-967-3348 

 

County: Texas Congressional District: 8

Funding: 

DRA $150,000 14.29%

CDBG $750,000 71.42%

Applicant $150,000 14.29%

Total $1,050,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used for the drilling of a new water well and construction of a new water 

tower for industry expansion in Houston. The water well will be constructed on city property for the 

purpose of water supply and fire suppression for two facilities – Dairymen’s Best Creamery and Piney 

River Brewing Company. 

Benefits: This project will result in a new water well and tower, helping to create 60 new jobs in the area. 

Additionally, this project will provide water for fire suppression for a nursing home within the vicinity of 

the Dairymen’s Best Creamery and Piney River Brewing Company. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 94
Missouri: Three Rivers College Kennett & Sikeston Campuses Nursing Program

 

Awardee: Three Rivers Community College Federal ID#: 43-0862849 

 

Awardee Contact: Wesley Payne Phone: 573-840-9689

 

County: Duncan Congressional District: 8

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 50.00%

Applicant $100,000 50.00%

Total $200,000 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will be used for simulation technology. Simulation technology utilizes computerbased simulators with CD-ROM applications. Learners move through a clinical situation by responding to 

questions and selecting therapies. These applications require learners to analyze the data and make a 

response. Simulation can be used to teach theory, assessment, technology, pharmacology, and skills. The 

emphasis in simulation is on the application and integration of knowledge, skills, and critical thinking. 

Benefits: Approximately 50 students per year will be trained as a result of the TRC nursing simulation lab. 

Currently, the college's Licensed Practical Nursing program admits 40 students per year and the 

EMT/Paramedic program admits 10 students per year. Within the next two years, Three Rivers College 

plans to begin offering a Registered Nursing Bridge Program which will allow students who have been 

trained as Licensed Practical Nurses to move to a Registered Nursing Program; with the addition of this 

career track, the number of students using the simulation lab will likely increase to as many as 75 to 80 per 

year. 
DRA Projects in Tennessee

ANDERSON

BEDFORD

BENTON

BLEDSOE 

BRADLEY

CAMPBEL

CANNON

CARROLL

CHEATHAM

CHESTER

CLAY

COFFEE

CROCKETT

CUMBERLAND

DAVIDSON

DECATUR

DE KALB

DICKSON

DYER

FAYETTE

FENTRESS

FRANKLIN

GIBSON

GILES

GRUNDY

HAMILTON

HARDEMAN

HARDIN

HAYWOOD HENDERSON

HENRY

HICKMAN

HOUSTON

HUMPHREYS

JACKSON

LAKE

LAUDERDALE

LAWRENCE

LEWIS

LINCOLN

LOUDON

MCMINN

MCNAIRY

MACON

MADISON

MARION

MARSHALL

MAURY

MEIGS

MONROE

MONTGOMERY

MOORE

MORGAN

OBION OVERTON

PERRY

PICKETT

POLK

PUTNAM

RHEA

ROANE

ROBERTSON

RUTHERFORD

SCOTT

SEQUATCHIE

SHELBY

SMITH

STEWART

SUMNER

TIPTON

TROUSDALE

VAN

BUREN

WARREN

WAYNE

WEAKLEY

WHITE

WILLIAMSON

WILSON

Tennessee Counties Served by DRA

Benton

Carroll

Chester

Crockett

Decatur

Dyer

Fayette

Gibson

Hardeman

Hardin

Haywood

Henderson

Henry

Lake

Lauderdale

Madison

McNairy

Obion

Shelby

Tipton

Weakley

FY 2014 DRA Service Area

DRA projects funded prior to FY 2014

DRA projects funded during FY 2014

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 95
“The DRA is a strong, natural partner of USDA-Rural Development as we both 

strive to empower rural communities for success through strategic investments 

into local infrastructure, workforce, and businesses. With similar missions and 

strategies for developing West Tennessee, we are always proud to work with DRA 

on initiatives that increase opportunities and improve life for West Tennesseans.”

- Bobby Goode, Tennessee State Director for USDA-Rural Development

Cumulative Tennessee Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2002 through FY 2014.

Total DRA projects 77

DRA Investment $ 16,642,838

Other Public Investment $ 160,351,993

Other Private Investment $ 296,012,818

Overall Total Investment $ 473,007,649

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 27.42

Jobs Created 1,819

Jobs Retained 11

Individuals Trained for Jobs 53

Families Affected 4,368

Projected Jobs Created 3,131

Projected Jobs Retained 1,312

Projected Individuals Trained for Jobs 282

Projected Families Affected 7,864

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 96
Tennessee Benefits from DRA

The numbers below are for FY 2014.

Total DRA projects 9

DRA Investment $ 1,298,506

Other Public Investment $ 1,843,005

Other Private Investment $ 8,240,612

Overall Total Investment $ 11,382,123

Total Investment Leverage Ratio 7.77 

Projected Jobs Created 181

Projected Jobs Retained 92

Projected Individuals Trained for Jobs 252

Source: Delta Regional Authority; January 20, 2015.

“The critical path to growing minority and 

women-owned businesses in the Delta begins with 

organizations like the DRA understanding the value 

of strategic partnerships and the importance of 

investing resources in a solution. The recent pilot 

funded by a DRA investment has served nearly 300 

M/WBEs in the Delta but there is more work that 

needs to be done. I applaud Chairman Masingill 

and the DRA for championing small business growth 

for minority and women businesses, but more 

importantly for directing dollars to achieve 

economic development outcomes.”

- Luke Yancy III, President & CEO, 

The MMBC Continuum

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 97
Tennessee DRA %	of	total Public Private Total Ratio Assessment ROI

2002 $							2,805,583 $										 4,948,390 $																											- $										7,753,973 1.8:1 62,574 $									 4384%

2003 $										 684,384 $																91,016 $																											- $														775,400 0.1:1 72,497 $									 844%

2004 $										 367,513 $										 1,388,281 $																											- $										1,755,794 3.8:1 58,022 $									 533%

2005 $										 506,952 $										 2,749,520 $										 1,390,000 $										4,646,472 8.2:1 93,589 $									 442%

2006 $										 976,017 $														396,003 $																											- $										1,372,020 0.4:1 102,342 $							 854%

2007 $							1,179,815 $														207,900 $						165,000,000 $						166,387,715 140.0:1 82,843 $									 1324%

2008 $										 477,264 $										 4,062,989 $																											- $										4,540,253 8.5:1 91,253 $									 423%

2009 $										 908,220 $																											- $																											- $														908,220 0.0:1 76,240 $									 1091%

2010 $							1,665,525 $										 6,360,500 $																											- $										8,026,025 3.8:1 79,774 $									 1988%

2011 $							3,748,646 $						137,181,588 $						120,000,000 $						260,930,234 68.6:1 82,876 $									 4423%

2012 $							1,030,200 $														483,818 $														905,000 $										2,419,018 1.3:1 88,654 $									 1062%

2013 $										 994,213 $														638,983 $														477,206 $										2,110,402 1.1:1 79,356 $									 1153%

2014 $							1,298,506 $										 1,843,005 $										 8,240,612 $								11,382,123 7.8:1 90,511 $									 1335%

DRA $													16,642,838

Public $											160,351,993

Private $											296,012,818

Total $											473,007,649

Total	Projects 77

Leverage Comparisons

Cumulative Totals: FY02-FY14 Small	state	assessments,	translate	into	large	returns!!

STATES' RETURN ON DRA INVESTMENTS - Tennessee

FISCAL	YEARS	2002	THROUGH	2014

0%	 10%	 20%	 30%	 40%	 50%	 60%	 70%	 80%	 90%	 100%	

2002	

2004	

2006	

2008	

2010	

2012	

2014	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

4384%	

844%	 533%	 442%	

854%	

1324%	

423%	

1091%	

1988%	

4423%	

1062%	 1153%	 1335%	

0%	

1000%	

2000%	

3000%	

4000%	

5000%	

2002	 2003	 2004	 2005	 2006	 2007	 2008	 2009	 2010	 2011	 2012	 2013	 2014	

3%	

34%	

63%	

DRA	

Public	

Private	

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 98
Tennessee: Gates Infrastructure Improvements 

 

Awardee: Town of Gates Federal ID#: 62-6019015 

 

Awardee Contact: Dwayne Dixon Phone: 731-836-7501 

 

County: Lauderdale Congressional District: 8

Funding: 

DRA $150,000 62.76%

Applicant $89,000 37.24%

Total $239,000 100.00%

Description: DRA investment will relocate an exposed fiber optic line for an ongoing rail spur project. 

Benefits: The rail spur project will have a tremendous impact on the operation of Wright’s Auto Parts and 

Metals and will contribute to its effectiveness in the following ways: the expansion will allow WAPM to 

sell recyclable materials to markets with higher value, the company will no longer be limited to the 

markets of the surrounding area, and the investment will benefit the network of suppliers, the city of 

Gates, and Lauderdale County. 

Tennessee: Seeding Entrepreneurship Across the Mid-South (SEAM) 

 

Awardee: SeedCo Federal ID#: 13-2875743 

 

Awardee Contact: Chermale Casem Phone: 901-328-5828 

 

County: Shelby Congressional District: 8, 9

Funding: 

DRA $265,226 100.00%

Total $265,226 100.00%

Description: DRA investment will be used to promote entrepreneurship, workforce development, family 

and work support programs and technical assistance services for small businesses and non-profits. 

Working together with community partners and leveraging local resources, Seedco’s SEAM program 

provides a comprehensive, scalable model utilizing entrepreneurship as the foundation for reducing 

poverty through asset, wealth, and job creation. 

Benefits: Graduates will be equipped with new management skills, extensive connections, a business 

mind-set and confidence to enter or return to the workforce through the creation or expansion of their own 

thriving microenterprise. The successful launch of a microenterprise by participants will increase asset 

ownership that over time will allow families to move from poverty to long-term prosperity. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 99
Tennessee: Dyer Workforce Solutions: Expanding the Digital Works in Tennessee

 

Awardee: Dyersburg City Schools Federal ID#: 62-0986509 

 

Awardee Contact: Neel Durbin Phone: 731-699-0234 

 

County: Dyer Congressional District: 8

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 59.70%

Applicant $67,504 40.30%

Total $167,504 100.00%

Description: The Digital Works concept will be expanded to offer customer service representative and 

server programming training to residents of Dyer County and surrounding rural areas. 

Benefits: Digital Works will allow new forms of work to be introduced, taking advantage of a valuepriced, high-tech workforce. As local capacity builds, the community will be able to leverage the 

workforce to recruit advanced technology companies, not just traditional manufacturing facilities. The 

community will gain access to thousands of jobs available to underemployed and displaced workers and 

will provide younger workers with an opportunity to earn a good living as part of a skilled workforce. 

Tennessee: Stanton Digital Factory 

 

Awardee: City of Stanton Federal ID#: 62-0676932 

 

Awardee Contact: Allan Sterbinsky Phone: 731-258-5002 

 

County: Madison Congressional District: 8

Funding: 

DRA $72,000 90.00%

Applicant $8,000 10.00%

Total $80,000 100.00%

Description: DRA investment will be used to conduct Regional Economic Development Initiative 

(REDI) Digital Factory training for local residents. LiveOps—a local company—has ensured REDI they 

will hire all successful graduates. 

Benefits: The people successfully trained at the Digital Factories will be employed as Direct Response 

Agents for an Internet Company called LiveOps averaging between $8-15 hourly wages. LiveOps has 

ensured REDI that they can employ all successful graduates as Direct Response Agents. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 100
Tennessee: Expansion of OutsideIn Training Programs

 

Awardee: OutsideIn Federal ID#: 46-1665470 

 

Awardee Contact: Jani Leellen Smith Phone: 731-699-0234 

 

County: Weakley Congressional District: 8

Funding: 

DRA $31,200 100.00%

Total $31,200 100.00%

Description: DRA investment will be utilized for the expansion of the OutsideIn training program in 

Troy to focus on workforce training for chronically unemployed and indigent women with a past history 

of addiction and/or low educational attainment. 

Benefits/Outcomes: This project will provide increased training and work space for 16 OutsideIn 

trainees, increased training for staff members to improve curriculum, and a better product to guarantee 

sustainability. The addition of three new sewing machines will allow for the hiring of seven workers by 

2016, while also increasing production for OutsideIn. 

Tennessee: Implementing a Multi-State GIS Project 

 

Awardee: Central US Earthquake Consortium Federal ID#: 37-1172914 

 

Awardee Contact: Chris Pope Phone: 901-544-3570 

 

County: Shelby Congressional District: 9

Funding: 

DRA $225,000 77.59%

Applicant $65,000 22.41%

Total $290,000 100.00%

Description: DRA investment will be used to expand the capacity of a multi-state GIS system for the 

purpose of enhancing regional disaster planning through the Central US Earthquake Consortium. 

Benefits: This project will provide workforce training for a minimum of 25 people, create a regional GIS 

model in DRA’s footprint, connect nine states to share essential elements of information, make geospatial 

data maps and images available to hundreds of city and county governments, speed up response and road 

status, and maximize the potential of a regional GIS. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 101
Tennessee: NextFarm Agricultural Innovation Accelerator

 

Awardee: Northwest Tennessee Entrepreneur Center Federal ID#: 46-0531054 

 

Awardee Contact: Carol Reed Phone: 731-587-4213 

 

County: Weakley Congressional District: 7, 8, 9

Funding: 

DRA $100,000 100.00%

Total $100,000 100.00%

Description: DRA investment will support NextFarm Ag Accelerator serving 18 counties in northwest 

Tennessee, providing mentorship, training, capital investment opportunities, and legal services to agbased entrepreneurs. 

Benefits: The NextFarm Accelerator will help to produce a heightened interest in the ag-tech sector for 

rural West Tennessee. An accelerator of this type is projected to recruit 16 potential entrepreneurs, help 

develop 6 companies each cycle of the accelerator, and support the creation of 12 jobs. 

Tennessee: City of Greenfield Access Road for Industrial Expansion 

 

Awardee: City of Greenfield Federal ID#: 62-6000296 

 

Awardee Contact: Cindy McAdams Phone: 731-587-4213 

 

County: Weakley Congressional District: 8

Funding: 

DRA $107,550 100.00%

Total $107,550 100.00%

Description: DRA funds will assist in the construction of an access road for Plastic Products Company. 

The asphalt access road will consist of a 6-inch gravel base from Parker Drive to the south wing 

expansion at Plastic Products. 

Benefits: The project will lead to the creation of 122 new jobs over three years. The construction of the 

proposed access road is the final step of a $1.7 million expansion project at Plastic Products Company. 

The project will save the company considerable funds, which can be reinvested in the local workforce. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 102
Tennessee: Millington Flight Academy 

 

Awardee: City of Millington Federal ID#: 62-6000367 

 

Awardee Contact: Terry Jones Phone: 901-873-3341 

 

County: Shelby Congressional District: 9

Funding: 

DRA $247,530 1.82%

State $724,150 51.05%

Applicant $706,855 41.28%

Local $100,000 5.85%

EDGE $150,000 7.78%

Total $1,928,535 100.00%

Description: DRA investment will be utilized for the redevelopment of an airport hangar for a flight 

academy—Crew Training International (CTI). DRA funds allow for milling and overlaying of Funafuti 

Avenue, which bisects the proposed flight school campus. 

Benefits/Outcomes: The Flight Academy will help to create 75 new jobs, recruit CTI students to the 

local communities, and attract a $6 million construction investment by CTI. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 103

DRA Policy Initiatives and Programs 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 104
Innovative Readiness Training 

Program Overview 

Throughout six years of partnership, the Delta Regional Authority and the Department of Defense 

have collaborated to bring the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program to the Delta region. 

IRT medical missions deliver free, quality medical care, provided by licensed medical 

professionals serving in our reserve forces, to residents of rural communities that otherwise have 

little to no access to quality health care. IRT clinics operate for a temporary time frame (usually 

about 10 days) during which patients can receive general medical, dental, and optical care for 

themselves and their family members, all of which are high-demand health care needs in the Delta. 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update 

DRA is working with three units to plan IRT missions in Missouri and Alabama in 2015: 

Missouri Bootheel: 

 Sikeston, Dexter, and Malden, Missouri 

West Alabama: 

 Selma, Demopolis, and Camden, Alabama 

East Alabama: 

 Tuskegee, Eufaula, and Clayton, Alabama 

The initial planning sessions have been planned and DRA staff is currently working in each of the 

locations to prepare for the summer of 2015 for the missions. 

Expectations for the Remainder of FY 2015 

All three missions are currently in the planning stages, and a DRA representative will be meeting 

with each of the mission coordinators for a second and final planning session in Missouri and 

Alabama. Each mission will be executed in the summer of 2015. 

Goals and Outcomes 

Each mission will provide medical services including, but not limited to, general medical, dental

and optical care. Services will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis with each location 

providing services that benefit those in the communities that are underserved and in need of 

medical attention. The expectation is that each mission will provide care to between four and five 

thousand patients in the region. Thus far, in six years of partnership, the DRA and DOD are proud 

to have delivered free medical care to nearly 50,000 patients in Delta communities.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 105
Delta Doctors 

Program Overview 

In an effort to increase the number of doctors serving Delta residents, the Delta Regional Authority 

began implementing the Delta Doctors program in 2003. The program allows foreign physicians 

who are trained in the US to work in medically underserved areas for three years by providing 

those physicians with J-1 Visa Waivers. Most choose to stay far longer once they develop a patient 

base. Those in the Delta Doctors program do not take jobs away from U.S.-born physicians. 

Instead, they provide services in areas where there would otherwise be a shortage of physicians. 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update 

Applications are currently being received by the DRA. Meanwhile, the DRA was invited to attend 

a J-1 Visa Waiver Summit on Immigration in Washington, DC. The meeting was hosted by 

Immigration Attorneys who specialize in J-1, J-2, H1B and J-O cases. A DRA representative, 

Bevin Hunter, spoke to the attendees about the Delta Regional Authority Delta Doctors program, 

and about how the DRA’s program differs from Conrad 30 programs and the Appalachian 

Regional Commission (ARC) program. 

During the summit, it was noted several times by speakers that the DRA’s program is exceptional, 

and that DRA has played and continues to play a major role in placing doctors within high-need 

Delta communities. DRA held a conference call with a committee of attorneys who frequently use 

the Delta Doctors program. Those attorneys included: Greg Siskind, Adam Cohen, Barry Walker, 

Brad Sandler, Klari Tedrow, Doreen Dobson, Jeremy Zollinger to discuss the new DRA Website 

Delta Doctors page and suggestions for streamlining and updating the application process to make 

it more efficient. 

Expectations for the Remainder of FY 2015 

With the launch of the new DRA.gov website, there will be construction of a Delta Doctors jobs 

board and additional interactive resources provided to foreign physicians and local hospitals 

interested in participating in the Delta Doctors program. The Delta Doctors program also has a 

new logo and will incorporate updated classification notes, reordering of the application checklist 

to be more streamlined, additional documents to the website that are form fill able and increased 

user experience for those seeking to learn more about the program. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 106
Goals and Outcomes 

Applications 

 In addition to the success of the 80 applications in FY 2014, DRA fully expects to process 

a similar number in 2015. Currently as of January 1, 2015 the program has received 14 

applications which have been processed. 

Marketing 

 DRA staff are working on a new brochure that will use the new logo created for the Delta 

Doctors program. The new brochure will be geared towards employers and will include 

photos of our current doctors around the region, a map of the region and important 

information to help businesses and stakeholders understand the program and DRA’s role. 

 A push card resource for interested international doctors will also be created, and will be 

available to DRA partners and attorneys, to help them promote the Delta Doctors program 

and the documentation necessary to apply.

Outreach 

 Staff will be utilizing a checklist and will emphasize taking action to facilitate drop-in visits 

around the region to talk with DRA’s Delta Doctors. 

 Staff will be attending job fairs in the region to talk with hospitals and potential candidates. 

 Staff will attend health conferences that pertain to J-1 Waivers to keep up with information 

and to continue to make contacts throughout the region. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 107
DRA and HHS/HRSA Delta Region Technical Assistance Partnership 

Program Overview 

The Delta Regional Authority and the US Department of Health and Human Services / Health 

Resources Services Administration (HHS/HRSA) are working closely together to develop a 

series of webinars and in-person workshops that will be packaged together as a “Delta Region 

Technical Assistance Partnership”. This partnership is currently in development. 

The goal of this new DRA and HHS/HRSA partnership is to help applicants in the Delta region 

gain access to HRSA grants and funding. The webinars and workshops will be designed to 

provide broad overviews of the various funding sources that are available through HRSA, while 

also delving into more technical details and step-by-step instructions, providing applicants with a 

more in-depth understanding of how to make an application for HRSA funds successful, and 

how to gain access to the right kinds of funding that health stakeholders in the Delta region need. 

The webinars and workshops will be directed toward, and applicable to, a wide range of 

stakeholders, including but not limited to: community health centers, hospitals, community 

colleges, and various health workforce training programs. 

The opportunity for DRA to work with HRSA to create this partnership arose following a 

successful event in the Delta region, when the DRA hosted HRSA Administrator Dr. Mary 

Wakefield in Arkansas for a site visit tour of three Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) military 

medical clinic sites. Following this successful tour, HRSA conveyed its interest in continuing to 

partner with DRA on new and existing programs. Over the course of ongoing discussions about 

how the two agencies can most effectively work together to provide the best possible outcomes 

to the region, the DRA and HHS/HRSA Technical Assistance Partnership was born. 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update 

This partnership is currently in development, with the first phase of this partnership – a series of 

webinars designed specifically for Delta region stakeholders – tentatively set to begin Thursday, 

February 26th 2015 from 2:00 – 4:30 pm eastern. The first webinar will cover two specific HRSA 

rural funding programs with application periods that are currently open: the Rural Network 

Allied Health Training Program funding opportunity (applications due by March 31, 2015) and 

the Rural Health Care Coordination Network Partnership Program (applications due by April 6, 

2015). Additional information about how to join the webinars is forthcoming. 

Expectations for the Remainder for FY 2015 

The DRA looks forward to three in-person workshops which will be held in three different 

locations within the region. Two of these workshops will be hosted by DRA in partnership with 

HRSA, and a third workshop will likely be hosted in partnership with the Appalachian Regional 

Commission (ARC) and HRSA. DRA hopes that these events will occur in spring and fall of 

2015. The open application periods for the various funding opportunities that will be covered 

will also have a bearing on the actual event dates. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 108
The DRA has proposed specific locations and content for the workshops, which are subject to 

change pending HRSA’s input about the feasibility of the recommended locations. 

Goals and Outcomes 

DRA has conducted an analysis of data provided by HRSA showing locations and funding 

programs for which applicants in the Delta region may not be successfully applying (i.e., 

applications may be submitted but may not be strong enough for the applicant to be awarded 

funding). Following an analysis of this data, DRA has asked HRSA to focus specifically on 

three funding categories that are of interest to Delta region stakeholders: 1) Rural Health 

Networks and Outreach; 2) Workforce and Professional Needs and Trainings; and 3) Health 

Infrastructure and Telehealth. 

By hosting focused workshops focused on these three health opportunity funding categories, 

DRA is hopeful that the regional events will lead to an outcome of more successful Delta region 

applications submitted for HRSA funding, and more Delta region applicants awarded HRSA 

funding in the future. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 109
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Initiative 

Program Overview 

DRA’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Policy Framework focuses on policy areas aimed at 

creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem in local communities that will develop more skilled 

entrepreneurs, lead to the creation of more job-creating new businesses, and help grow small 

businesses. The initiative addresses five key priority areas to guide this initiative: 

 Developing a pipeline of educated and skilled entrepreneurs 

 Cultivating technology exchange and innovation 

 Improving access to affordable capital 

 Promoting awareness and advancing regional market opportunities 

 Optimizing the regulatory environment 

Projects Funded Under the SB&E Initiative: 

 M/WBE Strategic Growth Services (M/WBE)- $250,000; The MMBC Continuum aims 

to address the challenges that hinder M/WBE growth by partnering with economic 

development organizations to share innovative minority business development strategies. 

The project’s focus is on delivering targeted business training, development, and technical 

assistance programs to assist M/WBEs with growing their businesses through addition of 

new customers, increased business with existing customers, increased revenue, improved 

business operations and capacity, and ultimately job creation to impact economic growth in 

their respective regions. 

o The program will impact at least 150 M/WBEs through 10 training and 

development events within a 100-mile radius of five DRA counties including 

Jefferson County, AR, Jackson County, IL, Ouachita Parish, LA, Madison County, 

MS, and Cape Girardeau County, MO. 

 Idea Village Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs)- $50,000; The Idea Village brings 

together entrepreneurs, professional resources providers and potential investors to support 

local startups through New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. EIRs provide the critical technical 

assistance, mentorship and access to professional and investor networks necessary to 

support and sustain high-growth ventures. The individuals help guide emerging 

entrepreneurs by providing management oversight on business challenges and lead pitch 

preparation with insight from investor experience. 

o Program will enable approximately 55 local, early stage, high-growth start-ups to 

accelerate their businesses during Entrepreneur Season. Areas served include 

Jefferson Parish, St. Bernard Parish, Placquemines Parish, St. Tammy Parish, St. 

Charles Parish, and St. John Parish. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 110
 Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub- $201,105; The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub 

is a collection of spaces dedicated to fostering innovation in arts, small business, technology, 

and entrepreneurship. The Hub encompasses an incubator, makers space, resources, and 

support services to create a positive environment for small businesses and entrepreneurs to 

thrive. 

o DRA’s investment is funding the renovation of a building in the Argenta Arts 

District of North Little Rock to serve as the Argenta Innovation Center and house 

multiple spaces for entrepreneurship development including the Art Connection, 

the Steam Lab, the Launch Pad, and the Silver Mine. The Hub hosts activities such 

as StartUp Arkansas Global Entrepreneurship Week, Youth Makers Camps, and a 

full schedule of events targeted at youth and student entrepreneurs. 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update 

M/WBE Strategic Growth Services: 

 Hosted Part 1 of the featured M/WBE seminar in two markets (Monroe, LA and Ridgeland, 

MS) 

 Hosted Part 2 of the featured M/WBE seminar in Cape Girardeau, MO 

 Hosted seventh annual Economic Development Forum which regional stakeholders 

attended

 Launched corporate outreach component to engage corporations for B2B opportunities 

 Completed five market visits including Stakeholder Meetings with Economic Developers 

and Community Leaders 

 Completed 12 market engagements (5 visits/7 seminars) connecting with 66 Community 

and Economic Development Stakeholders and 110 M/WBEs 

Idea Village Entrepreneurs in Residence: 

 Hosted 33 IDEA sessions (one-on-one 90 minute strategy session)

 Partnered with GNO, Inc. and Launch Pad to bring entrepreneurs on a road show that 

engaged the national investor community in a dialogue about New Orleans with the goal 

of getting national investments while keeping the companies here locally and showcasing 

the result of best practices developed in New Orleans. 

 Retained an EIR to help with strategic planning and preparation for the upcoming 

Entrepreneur Season. EIR managed program development and entrepreneur outreach. 

Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub: 

 As of November 2014, the Argenta Innovation Center had completed the installation of 

electrical wiring and painting of the walls and is now completely open for programming.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 111
 On November 12, 2014, the Argenta Innovation Center officially opened its Launch Pad 

space that hosted the Arkansas Technology Summit which gave twenty tech startups in the 

state the opportunity to present for further business development.

 The Innovation Hub was announced as participant community in the Local Foods Local 

Places program to create a regional Food Innovation Center that will increase downtown 

development opportunities by supporting food entrepreneurs and creating a market for 

local rural farmers. 

Expectations for the Remainder of FY 2015 

Looking to the future for the DRA Small Business & Entrepreneurship Initiative, an exciting next 

step is that DRA leadership is in the development phase of a partnership with the EDA’s Office of 

Innovation and Entrepreneurship for a Delta Entrepreneurial Ecosystems program. Initial meetings 

have been held between DRA and EDA, and both agencies are working to outline available funding 

and programming capabilities. 

Goals and Outcomes 

M/WBE Strategic Growth Services: 

 Engage M/WBEs to determine growth potential 

 Conduct a minimum of two training and development session per market 

 Conduct ongoing project monitoring and evaluation to track progress 

Idea Village Entrepreneurs in Residence: 

 Host 92 IDEA sessions 

 Continue strategic planning and preparation for Entrepreneur Season 

 Meet goal of accepting 10 Companies into the IDEx accelerator program 

Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub: 

 Renovation of downtown building into Argenta Innovation Center to serve as home to four 

spaces for education, training, prototyping and startup and entrepreneurial opportunities 

for Arkansans 

 Innovation Center and Hub have become a center for entrepreneurial activity and 

leadership in Arkansas, hosting the Arkansas Technology Summit, the ARK Challenge 

pitch competition, StartUp Global Entrepreneurship Week competition, coding workshops, 

a robotics competition, and numerous youth trainings–events and opportunities that have 

been created from the Innovation Hub. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 112
SBA Access to Affordable Capital Workshops 

Program Overview 

The Delta Regional Authority is working in conjunction with the US Small Business 

Administration to plan a series of “Meet the Lenders” access to affordable capital workshops 

across the DRA region. The workshops will address a key priority identified in the DRA small 

business and entrepreneurship policy framework, “Strengthening Our Local Economies,” to 

improve access to affordable capital. Workshop objectives include: 

1. Providing new and existing small business owners with detailed information on how to 

access affordable capital; 

2. Presenting an array of business support services offered by the SBA and SBDC; 

3. Facilitating the initial dialogue between entrepreneurs, bankers, and service providers; and 

4. Offering a show of support for federal partnering agency SBA to execute programmatic 

goals. 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update 

The first three small business workshops were held in FY15 in Illinois on September 30, in 

Arkansas on October 23 and in Mississippi on November 13, hosting more than fifty participants 

and eight to twelve lenders at each location. These workshops focused on brief explanations of 

SBA programs with a round robin at the end affording the opportunity for small business owners 

to talk one-on-one with lenders.

Expectations for the Remainder of FY 2015 

DRA staff will work with our SBA partners in Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, and 

Tennessee to schedule these workshops in spring of 2015. 

Goals and Outcomes 

The DRA is working to help stakeholders in the Delta thrive by providing educational and 

technical support for small businesses to grow and expand, improving education and training 

opportunities to develop a robust small business communities in the Delta. The DRA expects to 

continue participation levels of fifty small businesses and entrepreneurs at each of the upcoming 

workshops. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 113
Delta Entrepreneurship Network 

Program Overview 

The Delta Entrepreneurship Network program will identify, connect, nurture, and grow 

entrepreneurs and support organizations from across the Mississippi River Delta and the Alabama 

Black Belt regions by addressing regional deficiencies in capital, training, and best practices 

through a connected infrastructure of support organizations, investors, and educators. In the pilot 

year of a possible three-year partnership with The Idea Village in New Orleans, LA, the Delta 

Entrepreneurship Network will launch a competitive fellowship program to identify entrepreneurs 

and entrepreneurship support organizations in the region. 

This fellowship will identify up to sixteen entrepreneurs and sixteen entrepreneurship support 

organizations to receive a fellowship to participate in a special segment of New Orleans 

Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) with programmatic workshops and mentorship from panelists and 

industry experts. 

For Entrepreneurs: Applicants will compete in a series of pitch competitions in the region, 

known as The Delta Challenge. These regional pitch competitions will identify entrepreneurs that 

have highly scalable, investable ventures throughout the region. The top three winners of the 

respective competitions will receive a $1500 fellowship to attend New Orleans Entrepreneur Week 

March 25-27, 2015. While at NOEW, these entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to showcase 

their ideas to a panel of investors and network with panelists, experts, mentors, and other 

entrepreneurs. 

For Entrepreneurship Support Organizations: Applicants will be individuals or organizations 

that promote, nurture, and grow entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurship ecosystem in their 

communities. Those that provide direct entrepreneurship support or education services are 

encouraged to apply. Up to sixteen individuals or organization representatives will be identified to 

represent the eight-state region and will receive a $1500 fellowship to attend New Orleans 

Entrepreneur Week March 24-27, 2015.

New Orleans Entrepreneur Week 2014 had 5,209 participants, and $240,644 in startup capital was 

allocated across 38 startup ventures. By participating in the Delta Entrepreneurship Network, 

fellows will have access to industry experts, gain technical knowledge, expand their 

entrepreneurial network, and enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the DRA region. Through 

The Network, fellows will experience the development of a more connected, comprehensive 

network among entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial support service providers and educators. 

Additionally, the end result will promote the five key concepts of creating a successful 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 114
entrepreneurial ecosystem as outlined in DRA’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Policy 

Framework, Strengthening Our Local Economies. 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update 

DRA launched the program and opened applications as of January 15, 2015. Applications for 

entrepreneurs will be open until March 2, 2015 and applications for entrepreneurship support 

organizations will be open until February 15, 2015. Webinars were held January 27, 2015 and 

February 3, 2015. 

Expectations for the Remainder of FY 2015 

A series of pitch competitions, known as The Delta Challenge, will be used to identify the sixteen 

entrepreneurs throughout the region. The pitch competitions will happen during the month of 

February 2015. All fellows will be identified as of March 4, 2015. Fellows will attend New Orleans 

Entrepreneur Week March 24-27, 2015 in New Orleans, LA. Engagement with fellows will 

continue throughout the year through meetings, educational opportunities, and follow-up site 

visits. DRA will continue to engage with entrepreneurs and support organizations to build an 

engaging and resourceful network. 

 February 2015: The Delta Challenge competitions will be held to identify sixteen 

entrepreneurial fellows to attend New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. Three winners from 

each Delta Challenge will be announced as fellows. Entrepreneurship Support 

Organizations will be interviewed on February 25, 2015. 

 March 2015: Entrepreneurship Support Organization fellows are announced on March 4, 

2015. Support Organization fellows will participate in New Orleans Entrepreneur Week 

March 24-27, 2015. Entrepreneur fellows will participate in New Orleans Entrepreneur 

Week March 25-27, 2015.

 April 2015-October 2015: Follow-up with fellows after NOEW. Follow-up will include 

site visits, region-wide conferences and workshops, and electronic forums to connect 

entrepreneurs and support organizations. 

 October 2015-December 2015: Pilot year evaluation and strategic planning for 2016. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 115
Goals and Outcomes 

The inaugural class of the Delta Entrepreneurship Network will help to disseminate ideas, best 

practices, and resources to address deficiencies in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the DRA 

region. 

The Network aims to provide access to mentors, programmatic workshops, and experiential best 

practices of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship support organizations throughout the Delta region. 

Through a connected infrastructure of support organizations, investors, and educators, the Network 

aims to give entrepreneurs and support organizations access to affordable capital, technical 

training, mentorship, and programmatic events to encourage new entrepreneurial activity and 

strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the DRA region. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 116
Reimagining the Delta Workforce

Program Overview 

The Delta Regional Authority partnered with Ted Abernathy and the Southern Growth Policies 

Board to produce the report, Re-imagining Workforce Development. From this report it was 

determined that there was a need to build the capacity of local officials and connect government, 

education, and business stakeholders to work together in building a pipeline of skilled workers for 

mutual achievement. In order to address this need, the DRA convened these local stakeholders at 

state-specific summits to introduce leaders to the proposed Reimagining the Delta Workforce 

framework. The DRA then built a competitive, technical assistance, capacity building, and 

implementation investment program that empowers rural communities and parishes to develop a 

connected regional workforce system inclusive of both business/industry and education systems. 

Strategies for enhancing workforce development that DRA is using as a suggested framework for 

Delta communities in creating a successful pipeline of skilled workers to attract job creation and 

business investment as well as decrease the skills gap within DRA counties and parishes:

 Reimagining readiness- Applicants should demonstrate plans to strengthen connections 

between education and job skills, rethink the value of credentials in the workplace, expose 

students to the work world, and scale take technology to scale.

 Reengaging adult learners and disconnected youth - Applicants should demonstrate 

plans to target adults who lack a degree or credentials, assist dislocated workers to rejoin 

the workforce, and recover disconnected youth.

 Realigning relationships and resources - Applicants should demonstrate plans to create 

continuity in education and workforce development, align and track data across the 

education and workforce pipeline, and engage business in a meaningful way.

 Ramp up - Applicants should demonstrate plans to take new development workforce 

development plan to scale upon program completion.

 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update

The final three workforce summits were held in FY15, along with the last two webinars for the 

Reimagining the Delta Workforce NOFA. The applications for the NOFA were due to the DRA 

on November 10 and all applications were reviewed and final recommendations were made on 

November 21 to the Federal Co-Chairman. The board was notified of the accepted applications 

on November 24 and successful applicants were notified shortly afterwards. Out of the 18 

complete applications 12 were deemed eligible and 6 were deemed ineligible.

Chairman Masingill announced the 12 awardees via conference call with reporters and a press 

release to the public in mid December 2014. DRA staff has contacted those eligible awardees to 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 117
provide technical assistance in implementing the proposed project and to begin working with 

awardees to start their projects.

Due to the evident need of workforce development capacity building among project partners, seven 

of the twelve funding recipients will be participating in an ACT Work Ready Communities 

Academy specifically held for and targeting Delta communities. The first session will be held on 

March 4-5, 2015 in New Orleans.

Goals and Outcomes

The expected impact will be a well-educated and highly skilled workforce that can both fill 

available jobs for existing businesses and attract future job creation by incoming or growing 

businesses. This job creation and decrease of the skills gap will help connect our workforce to 

improved quality of life through employment. Program development and recommendations are 

based on findings in the DRA-commissioned report. The DRA sees the benefits of engaging in 

workforce development planning by helping communities to implement the below strategies 

identified in Re-imagining Workforce Development as goals for their workforce development 

system.

Summits 

In total, more than 680 education, business, and government stakeholders registered for the 

Reimagining the Delta Workforce summits in all eight states. As follow-up from the summits, 

DRA staff built event surveys and asked registrants to provide feedback on the summits and next 

steps. See below:

Positive Feedback from Attendees

“It was refreshing to see that DRA has the pulse of Business and Industry. The partnership that 

was exhibited at this Summit can serve as a model. Enjoyed this event very much!” – Arkansas 

summit attendee

“The morning was incredible and something everyone should hear.” – Missouri summit attendee

“Good job. Lots of good information! Thank you! Would love to attend when and if other 

workforce related summits/seminars are held.” – Mississippi summit attendee

“I thought the summits was excellent overall. Workforce development is in a crisis stage and we 

need to recruit future workers as soon as possible.” – Mississippi summit attendee

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 118
“I’m new to DRA so I’m not really sure about the agency but if this workforce summit is a vision 

of things to come, I look forward to the next summit.” – Louisiana summit attendee

“Above awesome.” – Louisiana summit attendee

“Enjoyed all the speakers...excellent information.” – Kentucky summit attendee

Lessons Learned from Surveys

 Need to include more discussion on veterans re-entering the workforce. 

 Need for more K12 educators to be part of the conversation. 

 Future events need to consider breakout sessions that connect stakeholders for a more 

substantive conversation on partnership building and next steps. 

 Important to discuss transportation’s role in aligning workers with jobs and training in 

the region. 

 Panelists did not distinguish well between education and job training...big distinction! 

 Healthcare was not mentioned as part of the conversation with job training and 

economic development. 

 Need more employers present.

 

Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Fund

18 complete applications were received from diverse stakeholders and partnerships that 

represented all eight states. 12 applications were deemed eligible and will be funded. Six 

applications are more program-specific and will be considered for future funding that does not 

fall under the current Reimagining the Delta Workforce fund NOFA.

DRA expects the proposed projects to result in:

 Increased number of community leaders that have been trained through the ACT Work 

Ready Communities Academy 

 Increased number of Delta workers/students that have achieved National Career 

Readiness Certification 

 Increased job creation for Delta communities and business location due to availability of 

highly skilled workforce 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 119
Jobs for America’s Graduates 

Program Overview 

Jobs for America’s Graduates, Inc. (JAG) is the nation’s largest school-to-work system for at-risk 

and disadvantaged youth. JAG focuses on keeping students in school through graduation by 

equipping them with the academic and technical skills necessary to improve their employability, 

which is parallel to DRA’s commitment to invest in strategies that boost employment and 

educational success. 

For Phase III of the partnership to boost both employment and education outcomes for high-risk 

youth, it is proposed that: 

A. A total of $280,000 be invested to support the implementation of the JAG program at 14 

new schools at $20,000 per school in the DRA service area within the seven states where 

JAG has long-standing and proven operations; 

B. A total of $70,000 be invested in the JAG National Organization for JAG oversight and 

support for the implementation of the 14 new schools with monitoring, evaluation, 

technical assistance, training, and other assistance to JAG Affiliates; and 

C. A total of $50,000 be invested to support the implementation of the JAG program at 5 new 

schools in Mississippi’s Delta region. This will be accomplished under the joint leadership 

and supervision of Jobs for America's Graduates and Jobs for Mississippi Graduates. This 

$50,000 will be matched by an additional $50,000 from the State of Mississippi as 

approved by Governor Phil Bryant. Both of these amounts will be matched by local schools 

(or over matched) in support of implementation of the JAG model by the five participating 

schools. 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update 

A total of 17 schools have been approved for funding and are implementing the JAG program: 

Alabama Mississippi

 Escambia County High School Coffeeville School District

Arkansas Hinds County School District

 Helena-West Helena School District McComb School District

 Nettleton School District Okolona School District

 Wynne School District Warren County School District

Kentucky (including Vicksburg and Warren Central)

 Hopkinsville High School Yazoo City School District

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 120
Louisiana Missouri

 Bolton High School Caruthersville School District

 Peabody Magnet High School Hayti School District

 Kennett School District

 South Pemiscot School District

Expectations for the Remainder of FY 2015 

Additional schools are being vetted and assessed regarding their readiness for implementation, 

availability of matching resources, and likelihood of being able to sustain funding for the program 

after the DRA incentive funding has completed. 

Goals and Outcomes 

It is anticipated that the outcomes from the Phase III Proposal will include: 

1. Engaging a wide range of schools in the seven states in the DRA service area where 

JAG has operations, to fully inform them about the success of the JAG programs in 

their states, as they consider participation in JAG; 

2. Engaging state leadership, including Governors and state education and workforce 

systems, to recognize the commitment of the Delta Regional Authority and to 

highlight the one-time-only matching grant strategy, with its proven success over 

the past 30 years of Jobs for America's Graduates. As part of that process, other 

state resources will be sought that could be attractive in expanding the program in 

the DRA service area;

3. Serving an additional 450 or more high-risk youth in the DRA service area who 

would have the opportunity to participate in the JAG program and benefit from the 

dramatic improvements in graduation, employment, and college attendance rates 

that JAG has demonstrated for more than 30 years. Total youth to be served in the 

20-22 schools from Phases II and III in the 2014-2015 school year would be 850; 

and 

4. Creating mechanisms to sustain the JAG program in the 14 new schools from other 

sources for the 2014-15 school year and beyond. Based on the track record of Jobs 

for America's Graduates over the past 30 years, it is anticipated that at least 2,000 

more high-risk youth will be served by the JAG program in the DRA service area 

as a result of this proposed grant over the following four years from the end of 

Phase III in 2015. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 121
Local Foods Local Places 

Program Overview 

First announced on June 9, 2014 during a White House Rural Council meeting in Washington, 

DC, which was also livestreamed to other locations across the country, the Local Foods, Local 

Places (LFLP) program aims to boost economic opportunities for local farmers and businesses, to 

improve access to healthy foods, and to revitalize downtowns and traditional neighborhoods by 

supporting farmers markets, food hubs, community gardens, and community kitchens and 

improving accessibility of these amenities. 

The partnership exemplifies the White House Rural Council’s commitment to leveraging 

community solutions to solve economic challenges in rural America. The program focuses on 

developing local food systems as a means of revitalizing traditional downtowns and promoting 

economic diversification. The program helps the winning communities improve their livability by 

promoting economic development, preserving rural lands, and increasing access to locally grown 

food.

In addition to the White House Rural Council, six federal partners have joined together to jointly 

fund and support the LFLP program: the US Department of Agriculture, the US Environmental 

Protection Agency, the US Department of Transportation, the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, the Delta Regional Authority, and the Appalachian Regional Commission. The 

funding for this program totals more than $750,000 and provides technical assistance in the form 

of in-person workshops and direct assistance from a contractor with the Renaissance Planning 

Group (RPG) which will help communities develop implementation plans and attract funds for 

implementation. USDA, EPA, DOT and CDC funds will be used for the planning phase of the 

program, and DRA and ARC will be used to help support implementation of the communities’ 

plans. 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update 

On December 3, 2014 the federal partners joined together to announce 26 communities selected to 

participate in the LFLP program nationwide, with seven of those awardees located in the DRA 

footprint. The DRA held a Delta region-wide press call led by Chairman Masingill along with 

Doug McKalip, White House Domestic Policy Council Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Affairs, 

and other federal representatives to announce the seven communities in four DRA states. All seven 

awardees participated in the call as well as local and federal representatives and members of the 

press. The seven communities receiving LFLP awards are: 

 Tuskegee, Alabama: will receive technical assistance to pursue a plan for economic 

development and food security through downtown revitalization and regional marketing 

initiatives. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 122
 Flippin, Arkansas: the Flippin School District will receive technical assistance to 

transition chronically empty properties adjacent to the high school parking lot into a 

farmers market. 

 North Little Rock, Arkansas: the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub and the community 

of North Little Rock will receive technical assistance to create a Regional Food Innovation 

Center. The center will increase downtown development opportunities by supporting food 

entrepreneurs and creating a market for local rural farmers. 

 Osceola, Arkansas: will receive technical assistance to connect the downtown historic 

district with local food opportunities. 

 New Orleans, Louisiana: the Friends of Lafitte Corridor in New Orleans will receive 

technical assistance to create a permanent farmers market structure on its site, where 

farmers and gardeners growing food along the Lafitte Greenway can sell their harvest 

several times a week. 

 Clarksdale, Mississippi: will receive technical assistance to develop a job training 

program based on vegetable farming and community gardens that will supply food for a 

farmers market and a café. 

 Itta Bena, Mississippi: will receive technical assistance to create a permanent grocery 

store and lasting local food network. 

Expectations for the Remainder of FY 2015 

Contractors with RPG will work with each community to help them develop an implementation 

plan, through a series of conference calls leading to an in-person workshop and additional followup thereafter. RPG will also help the communities prepare a scope of work and other materials 

needed in order for the communities to potentially access DRA funds and other outside funds 

supporting the implementation of their plans. 

Goals and Outcomes 

Project plans among the communities receiving an LFLP award include goals to create local food 

networks, establish regional food innovation centers, and develop job training efforts around local 

food entrepreneurship. Since the planning process is just beginning, there are not yet any 

outcomes to report at this time. DRA looks forward to working with our federal partners, RPG, 

and the awardees in the region to support their missions and help them be successful in reducing 

food insecurity, gaining access to technical assistance, and integrating local food systems into 

community economic development plans. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 123
Made in Rural America Export and Investment Initiative 

Program Overview 

The Made in Rural America Export and Investment Initiative was first announced on February 7, 

2014, when the President directed his administration, working through the White House Rural 

Council, to develop a new initiative focused on rural exporting. The main aim of the initiative is 

to bring together federal resources to help rural businesses and leaders take advantage of new 

investment opportunities and access new customers and markets abroad. 

The initiative includes many federal partners, including but not limited to the Delta Regional 

Authority, the US Department of Agriculture, the US Department of Commerce, the Small 

Business Administration, the Export-Import Bank, and the Appalachian Regional Commission. 

In FY 2014, in partnership with the White House Rural Council, the Delta Regional Authority 

hosted the largest of five major summits held across the country. The summits were born out of 

the Made in Rural America initiative and brought together businesses and experts to share best 

practices for exporting goods and services from rural areas. Secretary Penny Pritzker of the US 

Department of Commerce and Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill 

were the keynote speakers at the Memphis forum. The event connected attendees to technical 

assistance as well as state and federal resources and provided an opportunity for business owners 

and exporters to network with local, state, and national leaders around the shared interest in 

building the pipeline for exports from the Delta region. The summit was held in north Memphis 

on Thursday, July 17th at Southwest Tennessee Community College. More than 250 participants 

attended the forum representing communities from all eight Delta states and across the country. 

The forum featured many different speakers who relayed their best practices and recommendations 

for aspiring and new rural exporters. The extensive lineup of speakers during the event included: 

Karen Nippert, Southwest Tennessee Community College Vice President of Institutional 

Advancement; Phil Trenary, Greater Memphis Chamber President and CEO; Doug McKalip, 

White House Domestic Policy Council Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Affairs; David Spann, 

Memphis US Export Assistance Center Director for US Commercial Service; Don Lake, Vice 

President of Global Operations for Dunavant Logistics Group; Craig Simonton, Sales and 

Marketing Manager for Hydratek; Reid Dulberger, President and CEO for Memphis and Shelby 

County Economic Growth Engine (EDGE,) Mayors AC Wharton and Mark Luttrell, and many 

others.

First Quarter FY15 Update 

In FY 2015, the White House Rural Council has again directed the DRA, along with other federal 

partners, to continue to develop the MIRA initiative. The DRA has agreed to host capacity 

building workshops in the Delta region with support from the US Department of Commerce and 

other agencies to continue the important work of training business leaders to become successful 

exporters and to prepare them for, and support them in attending, international trade missions.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 124
Expectations for the Remainder of FY15 

The DRA looks forward to a potential upcoming Presidential announcement on the next phase of 

this initiative, and to launching of capacity building workshops and other efforts to support 

exporters in the Delta region. 

Goals and Outcomes 

The Made in Rural America summit held in Memphis in July was attended by more than 250 

participants. The event generated success stories and inspired business leaders in the Delta. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 125
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Policy Conference 

Program Overview 

In December 2014, the White House Rural Council (WHRC) announced that the Organization 

for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Rural Development Policy Conference: 

“National Prosperity through Modern Rural Policy” will be held in Memphis, Tennessee, May 

19-21, 2015. The conference will mark the 10th meeting of the world’s leading policy officials, 

international experts and representatives from the private sector for discussing best practices for 

rural areas, and will take stock of the evolution and progress made in rural development since the 

first conference of its kind held in 2002. It will be hosted by the White House Rural Council 

with the support of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Mexico’s Secretariat for 

Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development. The OECD is an international economic 

organization of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade. 

At the time of the upcoming conference’s announcement, the Delta Regional Authority was asked 

by its White House Rural Council (WHRC) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) partners 

to participate with, and logistically support, the conference and related events in the Delta region. 

DRA has also agreed to assume responsibility for the planning of tours for international 

participants only, beginning on May 21 and ending on May 23, in surrounding areas and other 

parts of the Delta region. The DRA will also host a reception for conference attendees on the first 

night of the conference.

The OECD “National Prosperity through Modern Rural Policy” conference will include panels 

and plenary sessions featuring Secretaries and Ministers from countries all over the world. 

Workshops will cover topics such as: natural resources and rural development; food security and 

the role for modern policy; housing and land use in rural areas; creating jobs and economic 

opportunities; linking rural and urban places; and building resilience in rural areas. These are just 

some of the many important topics that will be addressed, as the OECD and its partners work to 

measure progress that has been made over the past decade, and to set policy goals and 

recommendations for the future. 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update 

The OECD Policy Conference is currently in development. The DRA is working closely with 

USDA, OECD, and numerous other partners to plan event logistics for the conference. So far, 

DRA has helped to arrange for the hotel, meeting venues, convention center and visitors’ bureau 

and other spaces that will be utilized by the attendees of this invite-only conference. DRA has 

also agreed to assume responsibility for the planning of tours for international participants only, 

beginning on May 21 and ending on May 23, in surrounding areas and other parts of the Delta 

region. There will be four tours for the conference’s international travelers to choose from, and the 

tours will include regional highlights including Discovery Park of America, the US Space and 

Rocket Center, the Clinton Presidential Library, the BB King Museum, and other cultural and 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 126
historic attractions in the region. The DRA will also host a reception for conference attendees on 

the first night of the conference.

Expectations for the Remainder of FY 2015 

The DRA will continue to work alongside the planning to committee and looks forward to a 

successful event, May 19-21 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 127
Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership 

Program Overview 

The Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) is an interagency Obama 

Administration initiative designed to accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing, thereby helping 

to cultivate an environment for businesses to create well-paying manufacturing jobs in regions 

across the country. The IMCP rewards communities that demonstrate best practices in attracting 

and expanding manufacturing by using long-term planning that integrates targeted investments in 

workforce training, infrastructure, research, and other key assets. Designation as a Manufacturing 

Community is given to communities with optimal strategies for attracting and expanding private 

investment in the manufacturing sector and increasing international trade and exports. IMCP 

partner agencies coordinate in order to leverage complementary activities while also preventing 

duplication of efforts. The IMCP was launched in 2013 with a series of roundtables. The 

application period closed for round one in March of 2014, and 12 winning communities were 

designated and announced by Secretary Pritzker in May of 2014. 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update

Twelve IMCP Communities were designated in round one of applications. DRA was active in the 

selection process and also committed to be a partner agency providing preferential consideration 

for supplemental funding to any IMCP-designated communities within DRA’s geographic 

footprint. 

Expectations for the Remainder of FY 2015 

Following the announcement of the designated communities, the DRA was asked by the White 

House National Economic Council and other partners to provide a “federal point of contact” to 

work between the federal IMCP team and the Southwest Alabama “Partners for Growth 

Consortium,” one of the twelve IMCP Manufacturing Communities designated in the first round, 

the geographic scope of which falls partially within DRA’s service area. The DRA designated 

Mirielle Burgoyne as the staff lead. Mirielle conducted a site visit in Mobile, Alabama, in 2014 

and continues to work alongside the community to help them gain access to the federal funding 

that is aligned through the IMCP. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 128
Delta Leadership Institute 

Program Overview 

The Delta Leadership Institute is a body of fellows and alumni leaders who participate in a yearlong Executive Academy program and continue to communicate and collaborate in order to foster 

and strengthen cross-cultural, inter-governmental bonds throughout the region. Since 2005, DRA’s 

Delta Leadership Institute (DLI) has worked to improve the decisions made by community leaders 

across the Delta by building a corps of alumni that have: a regional and national perspective of the 

Delta, a toolkit of resources for addressing issues facing their local communities, and the training 

and professional development needed to extend the pipeline of skilled local leadership within our 

rural communities. The motivation for the creation of this Executive Academy and, later, the Delta 

Leadership Network (DLN) under the Delta Leadership umbrella was, to have a “corps” of wellinformed community leaders who understand not only their issues but the Region’s issues as well. 

Over the course of the Executive Academy academic year, participants attend six sessions and 

engage in training, case study discussion, and on-the-ground field studies of priority issue areas 

including workforce training and education, small business and entrepreneurship, transportation 

and basic public infrastructure, healthcare, and policy and governance. Upon beginning DLI’s 

Executive Academy, fellows become members of the Delta Leadership Network, where they 

engage with community leaders both within their state and across the Delta. With more than 350 

alumni, the DLN commits time, talent, service, and often financial resources to initiatives like 

Emergency Preparedness and Innovative Readiness Training missions and has become the voice 

for the Region and the DRA. 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update 

The conclusion of FY14 saw fifty fellows representing eight states in Class IX of the Delta 

Leadership Institute, which met seven times over the course of the year in Oxford, MS; New 

Orleans, LA; Memphis, TN; Cape Girardeau, MO; Paducah, KY; Washington, DC; and Little 

Rock, AR. They focused on everyday issues facing the Delta region and looked at ways to bring 

regional solutions to community problems like building a strong civic infrastructure for sustained 

economic growth, furthering good governance, maintaining quality infrastructure, and securing 

adequate schools and quality health care services by working together toward community and 

regional growth. Final assessment of the Executive Academy and the Institute (summarized 

below) showed that the participant experience was both extremely positive and valuable. 

Throughout the fall of 2014, DLI also held the first two sessions for Class X in Oxford, MS and 

Marion, IL. Forty-nine leaders have now completed their certification in Crucial Conversations

in addition to evaluating the Delta region as a whole by completing a SWOT (Strengths, 

Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of the region both by the numbers and by the 

nuances that bring our participants together from near and far; and covering policy issues focused 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 129
on Public Health and Access to Healthcare which included workshops on innovative health 

initiatives being implemented within the region and the implementation of the Affordable Care 

Act—looking at the different ways that the state and community leaders are increasing coverage 

and access to medical care across the eight states. 

Expectations for the Remainder of FY 2015 

The third DLI session focusing on small business and entrepreneurship was held January 20-22, 

2015 in New Orleans, LA. Additionally, in coming weeks and months, DLI sessions will focus on 

workforce training and education in Memphis, TN (which will also be the site and timeframe of 

the Delta Leadership Network Annual Conference); policy and governance in Washington, DC, 

and transportation and infrastructure in Point Clear, AL, where graduation will take place. At each 

session, the leaders study best practices in community and economic development and learn from 

experts who share resources that these leaders can apply in their communities, which include 

programming designed to allow fellows to apply critical thinking skills to real-world issues 

affecting their respective communities. The Institute will also launch its new website, application 

tool, and online alumni portal during the spring of 2015, looking toward an application period to 

be open between April and July, to apply for and enroll in Class XI – tentatively set to begin 

sessions in October (dates not yet confirmed). 

Goals and Outcomes: The table below outlines both quantitative and qualitative responses to 

the 2013-2014 Executive Academy. 

Measured element with background Results

The workshops, case studies, and field 

experiences were assessed along four 

dimensions and used to create an 

overall mean based on the following 

criteria:

 Knowledge of the speaker 

 Speaker’s ability to 

communicate 

 Active participation 

 Value of the subject matter 

The highest-rated Executive Academy session across all 

dimensions was Session V—Washington, DC with an 

overall mean of 8.71 out of 10. 

The overall mean for each academy is listed below: 

 Washington, DC – 8.71

 Oxford, MS – 8.62

 Cape Girardeau, MO – 8.45

 Little Rock, AR – 8.36

 Memphis, TN – 8.30

 Paducah, KY – 8.24

 New Orleans, LA – 7.95

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 130
Thoughts on Leadership

When respondents were asked if their 

thoughts on leadership had changed as a 

result of the Delta Leadership Institute, 

the vast majority stated that their 

thoughts had either been changed or 

reinforced as a result of the Delta 

Leadership Institute program. The 

following statements are emblematic of 

the responses: 

“Leaders have to be the catalyst for change or 

improvement in a community or a region. Leadership is 

not necessarily just an individual trait, but can be 

accomplished by a group of leaders. I am looking forward 

to connecting with the DLN and keeping involved with 

improving our region.”

“This experience has definitely expanded my idea of 

leadership. I've learned that leadership doesn't 

necessarily mean being a one-woman show, it actually 

involves working with others to get the job done.”

Community Implementation 

When respondents were asked if they 

had introduced or implemented any 

initiatives as a result of the executive 

academy sessions, an overwhelming 

77.3% have introduced or implemented 

an initiative in their communities as a 

result of the Delta Leadership Institute. 

The following statements are examples 

of the responses: 

“I am working in Missouri to reinvigorate the Missouri 

Rural Partnership. This rural council has a federal 

designation, but has been dormant for years due to lack 

of leadership and an inability to find a niche or purpose. 

I think the Partnership can be a valuable resource and 

clearinghouse for all community and economic 

development agencies, organizations and professionals 

working in Missouri...”

“I am trying to implement a youth entrepreneurship 

education program into the elementary schools. Part of 

my area has Junior Achievement, but that is not exactly 

what I would like to do. Part of my region also has the 

CEO program for High School seniors. I think that 

entrepreneurship education is lacking in the elementary 

age and junior high age kids.”

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 131
Bridging the Blues 

Program Overview 

Bridging the Blues (BTB) is a tri-state regional coalition focused on branding and marketing 

existing events in the Delta region related to music and heritage (festivals, concerts, art museum 

exhibits, tours, and various special events) to achieve the following: 

 Creation of an annual, ongoing, and comprehensive online event calendar including 

directions, “travel tips,” and specific event details; 

 Increased attendance and awareness of Delta region events and growth in the volume of 

annual visitors to the region; 

 Increased amount of first-time international and domestic visits to the region through a 

comprehensive marketing plan of Delta region cultural highlights and assets with a focus 

on specific two-week time frames; 

 Maximization of visitors’ average lengths of stay by providing event information relative 

to visitors’ interests; 

 Support of existing events through co-promotion and communication; and 

 Creation of a cohesive communication and information-sharing system to benefit the 

events as well as the consumer. 

Second Quarter FY 2015 Update 

The DRA has committed $150,000 to support the involvement of three states – Arkansas, 

Mississippi, and Tennessee – with each state dedicating an additional $50,000 from their tourism 

budgets, for a total commitment of $300,000. 

Expectations for the Remainder of FY 2015 

Among the anticipated plans and expectations for 2015 are two major festivals to be marketed as 

part of the Bridging the Blues partnership: the King Biscuit Blues Festival and the Mighty 

Mississippi Music Festival, both of which will incorporate the former Highway 61 Festival and 

broaden its scope to include other genres. Additionally, there are at least eight smaller festivals 

that will be involved in this regional effort. 

The DRA also looks forward to a press conference with the Governors of Arkansas, Mississippi 

and Tennessee to announce this partnership during the National Governors Association Winter 

Meeting in Washington, DC. 

Goals and Outcomes 

This initiative will help to increase and support live music and the tourism industry in the Delta 

region, which in turn will help to bring international travelers and additional investment to the 

region.

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 132
Healthy Workforce Challenge – After Action Report 

Program Overview

This past fall, the Delta Regional Authority’s five Healthy Workforce Challenge recipients 

concluded their programs that commenced in August of 2013. The year-long Healthy Workforce 

Challenge programs infused more than $800,000 into projects in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, 

Louisiana and Missouri. The programs were funded to promote behavioral changes in the 

workplace to combat the high toll of chronic disease on the region. 

The funding was released in partnership with the Health Resources and Services Administration’s 

(HRSA) Delta States Rural Development Network Grant Program. The DRA supplemented 

HRSA’s $5.4 million investment in their twelve awardees with an additional $800,000 in new 

funding to address worksite health. Five of the Delta States Rural Development Network Grant 

Program recipients were selected to receive the additional funding from the DRA to work with 

employers on the health of the regions’ workers. 

The five recipients were: 

Awardee Location Amount

Tombigbee Healthcare Authority Demopolis, AL $163,144.50

ARcare Augusta, AR $170,517.80

Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL $187,500.00

North Louisiana Regional Alliance Delhi, LA $139,432.50

Mississippi County Health Department Charleston, MO $158,345.30

Final Outcomes 

The DRA believes businesses large and small will enjoy significant savings by adopting the 

programs that combat and prevent chronic disease. DRA staff expects the report will show that 

businesses participating in the Healthy Workforce Challenge incurred savings through the 

improved health outcomes that result in increased productivity and decreased workplace absences. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 133
Additional Rationale for the Program

The DRA’s own regional health database shows the high rates of chronic disease in the Delta 

region. Circulatory disease death rates are 16 percent higher than the national average, with cancer 

deaths rates 12 percent above the national average. Thirty-two percent of Delta residents are obese, 

compared to 26 percent nationally, while nearly 12 percent in the Delta are diabetic and about 9 

percent of all Americans have diabetes. 

DRA awardees developed and implemented programs that partnered with local businesses and 

industry to incentivize healthy living through behavior change in the workplace. Successful 

applicants designed programs that include clear benchmarks and performance measures. The 

selected programs have also been designed to be readily shared as best practices and modeled by 

other businesses and industry in the region. 

Businesses in the Delta currently pay disproportionate costs related to chronic disease due to the 

high rates in the region. According to the U.S. Workplace Wellness Alliance’s Almanac of 

Chronic Disease, “Overweight workers incur larger medical costs and miss more days of work 

than normal weight coworkers.” The DRA’s Healthy Workforce Challenge attempts to tackle this 

problem head-on by implementing programs and practices that prove that these high costs are 

preventable. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 134
Health IT Revolving Loan Fund – After Action Report 

Program Overview 

The Delta Regional Authority’s efforts to improve health outcomes in the Delta region led to the 

development of a program designed to assist in the transition of rural health care providers to 

electronic health records. The DRA provided upfront revolving loans in $5,000 or $7,500 

increments to rural and underserved providers struggling to make the transition to electronic health 

records. 

AHIMA, a locally based non-profit, worked with the DRA and the HHS Office of Minority Health 

to identify provider participants for the program. The DRA provided $25,000 of the $500,000 in 

RCAP funding to cover the costs AHIMA incurred in expanding technical assistance workshops 

and internet education opportunities to participating providers in all eight DRA states. 

Health IT Loan Fund at a Glance

 Of the $500,000 FY2011 project, $114,000 was disbursed (loans, contractual and technical 

assistance) 

 DRA awarded $64,000 total in loans

 Repayments total $64,000 

 $89,600 in DRA’s HIT account (includes loan repayments, technical assistance expenses 

and application fees) 

 $386,000 unused in USDA’s possession has been approved to fund the Workforce 

Development Capacity Building & Technical Assistance Project 

Final Outcomes

DRA provided nine loans totaling $64,000 and all repayments have been received. Four of the loan 

recipients made repayments in full within the 6-month repayment time period. There were four 

extensions (90 days) granted as a result of issues with filing for reimbursement from Medicaid for 

meaningful use. All four repayments were made before the 90 day deadline. One physician didn’t 

utilize the loan received for unspecified reasons and funds were returned to DRA after several 

attempts to recover repayment. 

In closing, eight physicians were assisted in the purchase of an electronic medical record system. 

Several of the physicians communicated their systems are viable and utilized for patient 

encounters, billing, and claims submissions, among other uses. 

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 135
Delta Regional Authority Staff Contact List 

Name Title Email Ext. Phone

Chris Masingill Federal Co-Chairman cmasingill@dra.gov 13 O-662-624-8600

Mike Marshall Alternate Federal Co-Chairman mmarshall@dra.gov C-573-380-0053

Bill Triplett Chief of Staff btriplett@dra.gov 27 C-202-689-4134

Bevin Hunter Interim Chief Administrative 

Officer bhunter@dra.gov 20 O-662-483-8209C-202-288-6552

Artis, Mae Administrative Assistant martis@dra.gov 11 O-662-483-8205

Burgoyne, Mirielle Federal Agency Liaison mburgoyne@dra.gov O-202-434-4847

Edmond, Emanuel SEDAP Program Manager eedmond@dra.gov 25 O-662-483-8206

Hoskins, Staresha Project Compliance Officer shoskins@dra.gov 14 O-662-624-8600

Larrow, Nancy Accounting nlarrow@dra.gov 23 O-662-624-8600

Lucker, Spencer Communications & 

Public Engagement slucker@dra.gov O-202-434-4842C-501-416-3789

McDaniel, Tonita Senior Administrative Assistant tmcdaniel@dra.gov 22 O-662-483-8208

Milligan, Katie Special Assistant for Small 

Business & Entrepreneurship kmilligan@dra.gov O-501-569-3080C-662-313-1606

Morgan, Kemp Director of Project Development 

& Management kmorgan@dra.gov 18 O-662-483-8210 C-662-719-0142

Owens, Amanda Special Assistant to the Federal 

Co-Chairman aowens@dra.gov O-501-569-3080

Richardson, Amanda

Director of Delta Leadership 

Institute & Special Advisor to the 

Federal Co-Chairman

arichardson@dra.gov 

O-501-569-3080 

C-501-912-5722

Taylor, Amanda Senior Project Manager ataylor@dra.gov 26 O-662-483-8203

C-662-313-3772

Wood, Jana Communications Specialist jwood@dra.gov C-501-265-9414

Conference Room 29 Dial: 662-624-8565 

PW: 341300 // 300 

Fax Number 662-624-8537

DRA Board 

State Name Email Phone

AL—Designee Jim Byard jim.byard@adeca.alabama.gov O-334-242-8672

AL—Alternate Jimmy Lester jimmy.lester@adeca.alabama.gov O-334-353-4490

AR—Designee/Alternate Amy Fecher amy.fecher@arkansas.gov O-501-683-6432

C-501-529-1799

IL—Designee Vacant

IL—Alternate Kim Watson kim.watson@illinois.gov O-618-993-7630

KY—Designee/Alternate Tony Wilder tony.wilder@ky.gov O-502-573-2382

C-502-352-3202

LA—Designee Doyle Robinson doyle.robinson@la.gov O-225-439-2144

LA—Alternate Matt Parker matt.parker@la.gov O-225-342-0919

MS—Designee/Alternate Chris Champion chris.champion@governor.ms.us O-601-576-2901

MO—Designee Bill Ransdall bill.ransdall@ded.mo.gov O-573-526-1608

C-573-528-4092

TN-Designee Ted Townsend ted.townsend@tn.gov O-615-532-9060

TN- Alternate Brooxie Carlton brooxie.carlton@tn.gov O-615-741-8806

DRA FY 2016 Budget Justification and FY 2014 Annual Review Page 136