CLARKSDALE, Miss. – The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is awarding nearly $2.5 million to Local Development Districts (LDDs) across its eight-state service area within the lower Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions. Provided by the LDD Community Support Pilot Program, 44 LDDs located in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee will receive funding for capacity-building and community support resources.
“The LDD Community Support Pilot Program supports sustainable and inclusive local placemaking and capacity-building in the region,” said Dr. Corey Wiggins, DRA Federal Co-Chairman. “As a result of this approximately $2.5 investment, LDDs will be able to increase their capacity to help local governments across DRA’s 255 counties and parishes work to improve basic public infrastructure and create economic development opportunities in their communities.”
Designed to enhance regional competitiveness and economic sustainability, the LDD Community Support Pilot Program provides targeted support toward LDDs that are helping economically distressed, isolated areas of distress and persistent poverty communities navigate federal, state and other resources that impact economic and community development. The program was created to enhance the region’s resiliency and ability to compete and leverage resources by addressing the capacity gaps and limitations experienced by LDDs in DRA’s footprint.
In 2023, DRA made an initial investment of approximately $2.3 million toward 34 LDDs through the LDD Community Support Pilot Program, helping to increase their ability to provide project development, management and implementation support to DRA communities as they navigate resources that bolster economic development.
To learn more about the LLD Community Support Pilot Program, visit www.dra.gov.
About the Delta Regional Authority
The DRA was established in 2000 as a formal framework for joint federal-state collaboration to promote and encourage the economic development of the lower Mississippi River and Alabama Black Belt regions. To fulfill this purpose, DRA invests in projects supporting transportation infrastructure, basic public infrastructure, workforce training and business development. DRA’s region encompasses 255 counties and parishes in parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.