Delta Regional Authority

The Delta Regional Authority is a federal-state partnership that is congressionally mandated to help create jobs, build communities, and improve lives in the 252 counties and parishes of the Mississippi River Delta region. The DRA makes strategic investments into communities to boost economic opportunity through public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, workforce development, business development-emphasizing small businesses and entrepreneurship-health access, and leadership development. These investments come through the DRA’s States Economic Development Assistance Program. With 44 Local Development Districts as front-line project managers, these investments by the DRA support job creation and community development projects. Through the past twelve project cycles, the Authority is helping to create and retain more than 41,000 jobs. The DRA has leveraged $2.7 billion in other public and private investment with DRA investments that are training nearly 17,000 for a 21st century workforce and affording more than 61,000 families access to clean water and sewer services. The Delta Regional Authority serves as a regional leader for economic development in the eight states of the Delta region as well as a liaison helping to connect federal partners with investment opportunities in Delta communities.