DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY

ACTION PLAN

FOR TRIBAL CONSULTATION AND COLLABORATION

Plan submitted pursuant to

Presidential Memorandum dated January 26, 2021

Introduction and Background 

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is an executive agency of the U. S. Government, 

established in 2000 by Congress, to make strategic physical and human infrastructure

investments throughout its eight state region. Through financial assistance awards, DRA

helps to improve transportation and basic public infrastructure and to strengthen 

distressed communities’ workforce development systems, local business environments, 

support job creation and economic development. 

Contained within this document is DRA’s Action Plan in response to the Memorandum 

on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation to Nation Relationships executed 

January 26, 2021. 

(a) DRA’s 90 day Report

The January 26, 2021 Memorandum directed each agency to submit to the Director of 

the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), within 90 days, a detailed plan of actions 

to implement the policies of Execuitive Order 13175 and that the plan be developed after 

consultation with Tribal Nations and Tribal Officials. Dr. Corey Wiggins, was confirmed 

by the U. S. Senate on or about March 9, 2022 and sworn into office on March 11, 2022 

as the Federal Co-Chair of the Delta Regional Authority (DRA). As part of his transition 

into office, he immediately began conducting an assessment of administration, fiscal 

management, programs, and legal compliance of DRA. The initial assessment has 

revealed that many of the Executive Orders and Office of Management and Budget 

Memorandum which were issued in the early days of the Biden-Harris Administration 

had not been adhered to in the absence of an appointed Federal Co-Chair and without 

the benefit of the continuity of an Executive Director or Chief of Staff. Federal CoChairman Wiggins has in no way willfully failed to comply with the U. S. Code, 

Executive Orders nor with OMB Guidance and is working feverishly to implement 

policies and protocols which bring DRA into compliance with all requirements of 

Presidential Memoranda.

(b) DRA’s 270 day Report

The President’s Memorandum on Tribal Consultation reiterates the Administrations 

respect for Tribal sovereignty and self governance, commitment to fulfilling Federal 

trust and robust consultation with Tribal nations. Delta Regional Authority shares the 

same commitment. As Federal Co-Chair, Dr. Corey Wiggins has been intentional about 

his engagement of all communities within the eight state region about the challenges 
and sharing with those communities the mission and purposes of the Delta Regional 

Authority. Consistently, Dr. Wiggins has mentioned the st rategic goals core to 

fulfillment of these purposes:

1) Equitable community engagement

2) Increasing community capacity to receive federal support

3) Efficiently and expeditiously reinvesting taxpayer dollars in the communities we 

are established to serve

4) Establishment of a sustainable organization for continued support to rural 

communities 

Central to each of these priority goals is the need to support minority majority 

community leaders, encourage equity and inclusion in very intentional ways. Tribal 

consultation as well as the outreach efforts to reach more minority communities shall be 

prioritized. By reaching for these goals in the Tribal context, DRA can play a critical role 

in improving Tribal economic development self-sufficiency by addressing critical 

infrastructure issues, improve transportation and water and sewer systems within Tribal 

communities as well as help in the development of small businesses as a tool towards 

rural economic vitality. To that end and in compliance with the guidance of the 2021 

memorandum, DRA has taken initial steps to engage and strengthen our relationships 

with Tribal Nations within our eight state region.

DRA’s initial actions include:

o Consultation with the United Stated Department of Interior

o An initial consultation outreach for engagement with Tribal leaders

o A request to amend our statutory language to expressly include “tribes” as 

an eligible entity for financial assistance awarded through DRA. 

DRA’s Action Plan

a) Designated Tribal Consultation Official: DRA’s Strategic Partnerships Program 

Manager, Mr. Matthew Campbell

Mr. Campbell, in coordination with the Chief Administrative Officer of DRA, 

responsible for compliance reporting to OMB, shall submit reports to the

Assistant of the President for Domestic Policy (APDP) and the Director of OMB.

b) Progress Report

DRA’s Tribal Consultation Plan will be directly align with DRA’s Equity Action Plan and 

a dynamic document. 

DRA’s Equity Action Plan identifies three barriers to equitable outcomes and commits to 

undertaking strategic actions to minimize these barriers in the near to mid-term (2-4 

years) and long-term (5-8 years).

• Action #1: Revise programmatic guidelines to increase engagement with HBCUS 

and federally-recognized tribes. 
• action #2: Devise a more inclusive stakeholder outreach strategy and revise 

programmatic guidelines to increase engagement with BIPOC, LGBTIQQ+, faithbased organizations, and other marginalized groups.

• action #3: Revise programmatic guidelines to increase investment in persistent 

poverty counties. 

Specific to DRA’s Tribal Consultation Plan, DRA has taken steps necessary to:

1. Revise programmatic guidelines to increase engagement with federally recognized 

tribes. 

A. Barrier to Equitable Outcome(s)

DRA has historically underinvested federally-recognized tribes throughout the 

Delta Region. There are there are five federally-recognized tribes in the eight 

states, yet DRA has only made one grant to these federally-recognized tribes

during its 20 year existence. Although federally-recognized tribes are eligible to 

apply for all DRA grant programs, the Authority does not specifically identify 

federally-recognized tribes as eligible entities nor prioritize their applications 

within programmatic criteria under every program. This lack of recognition in

statutory programmatic guidelines has likely deterred federally recognized tribes 

from applying for and receiving DRA funding with any regularity. 

B. Action and Intended Impact on Barrier

In an effort to engage federally-recognized tribes in a more meaningful way, DRA 

will revise the programmatic guidelines and request an amendment to statutory 

language to expressly include the word tribes as an eligible entity for financial 

assistance awards.

Add a new criterion to the “Federal Priority Eligibility Criteria” to emphasize 

strategic partnerships with institutions of higher education, such as HBCUs, and 

federally-recognized tribes.

Add federally-recognized tribes under the recommended list for “Project Team 

Composition”; 

Add a new scored criterion for “Demonstration of Strategic Partnership with one 

or more federally-recognized tribes”.

Request speakers from federally recognized tribes to highlight their economic 

and community development efforts, such as workforce training initiatives 

and/or research during DRA sponsored convenings

Host federally recognized tribes for roundtable discussions about how the 

Authority can improve its inclusion of their organizations in agency programs 

and initiatives as well as provide a DRA program briefing to federally-recognized 

tribes.
C. Tracking Progress

For each of the sub-actions listed above, DRA will track progress in the near- to 

mid term (2-4 years) and long-term (5-8 years) using the following performance 

measurements:

o Near- to Mid-term: 

Number of applications submitted by federally-recognized tribes; 

Number of applications demonstrating strategic partnerships with federallyrecognized tribes.

Number of applications demonstrating strategic partnerships with federallyrecognized tribes as part of the project team.

Number of individuals from federally recognized tribes speaking at DRA 

sponsored convenings.

o Long-term: 

Number of awards made to federally-recognized tribes; 

Number of awards made to organizations demonstrating strategic partnerships 

with federally-recognized tribes.

DRA will experience the most success if the Authority realizes an increase in each 

of the outcomes listed above.

D. Accountability

DRA will incorporate its programmatic goals related to inclusion of federallyrecognized tribes in its forthcoming Regional Development Plan IV (RDP IV) –

the Authority’s strategic plan which governs its priorities and key actions for a 

five-year period. Additionally, DRA will encourage the Board of Governors to 

align their DRA state plans with these provisions. DRA will also measure its 

performance for the outcomes listed above in its annual Performance and 

Accountability Report (PAR) submitted to the U.S. Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB).

2. Devise a more inclusive stakeholder outreach strategy and revise programmatic 

guidelines to increase engagement with Tribal Nations. 

A. Barrier to Equitable Outcome(s)

DRA has not meaningfully conducted outreach to and/or strategically engaged 

with Tribal Nations.

Although DRA incorporates a non-discrimination clause into its programmatic 

guidelines and related documents, the Authority does not clearly demonstrate 

inclusivity for all people in its programs and initiatives. A lack thereof possibly 
deters individuals representing marginalized groups from engaging with DRA 

and benefiting from the federal resources the Authority has to offer. 

B. Action and Intended Impact on Barrier

In an effort to execute more inclusive stakeholder outreach and increase 

engagement with Tribal Nations DRA will revise the following programmatic 

guidelines:

• Delta Leadership Institute: In the Executive Academy application, specifically 

encourage submissions from individuals representing Tribal Nations. Applicants 

will be provided the option to self-identify themselves in one or more of the 

aforementioned categories, but will not be required to report this information to 

protect the privacy of all applicants.

• DRA Sponsored Convenings: Request individuals representing Tribal Nations to 

participate in respectful and meaningful capacities at DRA sponsored 

convenings.

Intentionally increase meaningful engagement with each federally recocognized 

tribe within our region to determine how the Authority can facilitate more 

inclusive engagement.

C. Tracking Progress

For each of the sub-actions listed above, DRA will track progress in the near- to 

mid term (2-4 years) and long-term (5-8 years) using the following performance 

measurements:

o Near- to Mid-term: 

Number of Executive Academy applications submitted by individuals 

representing Tribal Nations. 

Number of individuals representing Tribal Nations invited to speak at the DRA 

sponsored convenings

o Long-term: 

Number of individuals representing Tribal Nations selected to participate in the 

Executive Academy.

DRA will experience the most success if the Authority realizes an increase in each 

of the outcomes listed above.

D. Accountability

DRA will incorporate its programmatic goals related to engaging with Tribal 

Nations in its forthcoming RDP IV. Additionally, DRA will encourage the Board 

of Governors to align their DRA state plans with these provisions. DRA will also 
measure its performance for the outcomes listed above in its annual PAR 

submitted to OMB.

DRA will also celebrate the diversity of the Delta Region in Authority-related 

publications, including the Delta Current and in op-eds written by its 

presidentially appointed leadership. 

3. Revise programmatic guidelines to increase investment in persistent poverty 

counties. 

A. Barrier to Equitable Outcome(s)

DRA recognizes that “[a]reas with high incidence of poverty often reflect the low 

income of their racial/ethnic minorities. . . . [N]onmetro American Indians . . .

had the second highest rate (29.6 percent)” of poverty in 20191. DRA has not

traditionally prioritized making investments into persistent poverty counties 

under all agency programs nor regularly assist impacted communities with 

leveraging Authority programs and related federal resources. Out of the 252 

counties and parishes located in the Authority’s region, 116 or 46.03% are 

designated persistent poverty counties. 

DRA administers five grant programs including SEDAP, Community 

Infrastructure Fund (CIF), Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance 

Program (PWEAA), Delta Workforce Grant Program (DWP), and Rural 

Community Advancement Program (RCAP). Only two of these programs – DWP 

and RCAP – prioritizes and/or mandates grantmaking in persistent poverty 

counties. Currently, SEDAP, CIF, and PWEAA do not prioritize nor mandate 

grantmaking in persistent poverty counties.

B. Action and Intended Impact on Barrier

In an effort to be more inclusive of Tribal Nations and supportive of investments

in persistent poverty counties which directly correlate to the poverty rate in these 

communities in a more meaningful way, DRA will revise the following 

programmatic guidelines:

• States’ Economic Development Assistance Program/Community 

Infrastructure Fund/Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance: 

Add a new criterion to the “Federal Priority Eligibility Criteria” to emphasize 

investments in persistent poverty counties.

• Delta Workforce Grant Program: Increase the number of points received in the 

scoring criterion for “Demonstration of Inclusion in a Persistent Poverty 

1 USDA ERS – Rural Poverty & Well Being, https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/rural-economy-population/ruralpoverty
County/Parish” from two to three points.

• Delta Leadership Institute: In the Executive Academy application, specifically 

encourage submissions from individuals residing in persistent poverty counties.

• Innovative Readiness Training Program: Within the Community Readiness 

Checklist, encourage eligible Tribal entities located in persistent poverty counties 

to apply for an IRT mission.

• Delta Summit: Provide scholarships in the form of waived registration fees for a 

specified number of individuals, including Tribal nation representatives, residing 

in persistent poverty counties.

Additionally, DRA’s Federal Co-Chair will meet with stakeholder coalitions 

located in persistent poverty counties to discuss how the Authority can 

strategically invest into regionally-significant projects that impact the economic 

development of their communities. DRA will also promote special programmatic 

provisions, designed to increase engagement with individuals and organizations 

located in persistent poverty counties, through various media.

C. Tracking Progress

For each of the sub-actions listed above, DRA will track progress in the near- to 

mid term (2-4 years) and long-term (5-8 years) using the following performance 

measurements:

o Near- to Mid-term: 

Number of applications submitted by organizations residing in persistent poverty 

counties.

Number of Executive Academy applications submitted by individuals residing in 

persistent poverty counties.

Number of eligible entities residing in persistent poverty counties that submit an 

application for an IRT mission.

Number of Tribal Nation representatives residing in persistent poverty counties 

that register to attend a DRA sponsored convening.

o Long-term: 

Number of awards made to applicants residing in persistent poverty counties.

Number of Tribal Nation representatives residing in persistent poverty counties 

selected to participate in the Executive Academy.

Number of IRT missions hosted by Tribal entities in persistent poverty counties.
Number of Tribal Nation representatives s residing in persistent poverty counties 

that receive a scholarship to attend a DRA sponsored convening.

DRA will experience the most success if the Authority realizes an increase in each 

of the outcomes listed above.

D. Accountability

DRA will incorporate its programmatic goals related to making investments into 

persistent poverty counties and assisting impacted communities with leveraging 

Authority programs and related federal resources in its forthcoming RDP IV.

Additionally, DRA will encourage the Board of Governors to align their DRA state 

plans with these provisions. DRA will also measure its performance for the 

outcomes listed above in its annual PAR submitted to OMB. Lastly, DRA will 

publicize its performance measurements related to the number of DRA-funded 

projects located in persistent poverty counties as well as the amount of funding 

invested into persistent poverty counties by dollar figure and percentage in its 

annual report. 

The initiatives contained within this Action Plan will serve as a starting point and will 

undergo continuing review and evaluation in order to improve consultation efforts and 

adapt to changing missions within the agency and/or its changing programs and 

authorities. The Action Plan is designed to reflect the mission of the Delta Regional 

Authority with respect to American Indian tribes within it s eight state region and to 

comply with Legislative and Executive Branch mandates. Most importantly, by bringing 

the efforts contained within the Action Plan to fruition, DRA hopes to improve the lives 

of American Indian tribes to help revitalize, and more effectively fulfill the solemn trust 

responsibility of the Federal government.