DRA Announces Funding Available for 2025 Community Infrastructure Fund, Strategic Planning
The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has announced funding availability for the 2025 Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF), which supports economic and community development needs throughout the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions.
Funding is now available to address basic public infrastructure and transportation infrastructure, as well as flood-control issues for communities within DRA’s eight-state service area. Awards will range from $500,000 to $2 million, with grant applications being reviewed on an annual rolling cycle. Funding for this program was made possible, in part, by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Joe Biden — a key part of his Investing in America agenda to grow local economies from the middle out and bottom up and to create more resilient and healthier communities across the country.
“The Community Infrastructure Fund is one of DRA’s most unique tools that allows us to expand and invest in the resiliency of the region’s public infrastructure,” said Dr. Corey Wiggins, Federal Co-Chairman. “These investments will not only improve access to infrastructure but will also help improve residents’ quality of life and increase economic opportunities in some of the most persistently impoverished areas of the country.”
In 2024, DRA invested nearly $33 million in 34 projects through the Community Infrastructure Fund.
For more information about funding availability for the Community Infrastructure fund, visit www.dra.gov. For questions about the program, email sedap.cif@dra.gov.
The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has also announced funding availability for the 2025 Strategic Planning Program, which provides economically distressed communities, persistent poverty communities, and isolated areas of distress in the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions with the necessary resources to develop plans that address long-standing issues and guide economic growth.
Approximately $1.5 million is now available to help communities identify and develop strategic plans that will address issues such as infrastructure, industry growth, workforce pipelines and small business development for communities within the DRA region. Awards will range from $25,000 to $150,000, with applications being accepted on a semiannual cycle. Funding for the program was made available by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden — a key part of his Investing in America agenda.
“The Strategic Planning Program gives public entities across DRA’s footprint the ability to alleviate prolonged issues and to develop a roadmap for economic growth and revitalization,” said Dr. Corey Wiggins, Federal Co-Chairman. “With $1.5 million in available funding, DRA can provide communities across our eight-state region with opportunities to strategically plan and access resources that will lead to more solution-based outcomes and greater economic resilience.”
In 2024, DRA invested approximately $2.4 million in 20 projects through the Strategic Planning Program.
For more information about funding availability for the Strategic Planning Program, visit www.dra.gov. For questions about the program, email strategy@dra.gov.