Delta Regional Authority leverages public, private investments to help grow economic opportunity in West Tennessee
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill, together with public and private partners, today announced nearly $100 million in new investments into strengthening infrastructure, supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, and attracting new companies to West Tennessee. A full list of the investments is provided below. The investments, a combination of the DRA’s 2016 economic development awards as well as state, local, and private resources, are expected to create and retain hundreds of local jobs, train workers, and support industries across the region. “These investments help our region accomplish two critical goals: secure good-paying jobs today and make our part of the world more economically competitive in the future,” DRA Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill said. “We are making smart improvements to our region’s infrastructure and providing the workforce and technical training that small businesses need to grow. The future of West Tennessee is strong.” “These funds will help empower communities to improve and grow, expanding services and programs to create more economic development opportunities, and leading us one step closer to our goal of making Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs,” Gov. Haslam said. State: Tennessee “Over the past 16 years, Delta Regional Authority and its partners have improved countless lives by providing job opportunities for hardworking West Tennesseans,” said U.S. Senator Bob Corker. “I applaud DRA’s continued commitment to our state, and I am pleased this year’s investment of over $79 million will enhance infrastructure and help advance the Volunteer State’s economy by creating over 400 jobs and retaining over 1,600 jobs across eight cities.” U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander said, “I’m pleased the Delta Regional Authority is awarding over $1.5 million in federal funding to help create jobs in Tennessee. These grants will help fund critical infrastructure and boost economic development in our state. This is good news for Tennessee and the entire eight-state delta region.” U.S. Representative Steve Cohen said, “I am pleased that Delta Regional Authority is investing in infrastructure improvements in West Tennessee to help grow economic opportunity for small businesses. These new projects will help create and retain jobs, support local industries, and spur economic growth in Memphis and around the region.” 2016 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS
The investments are primarily made through the DRA States’ Economic Development Assistance Program, the agency’s main federal funding program that invests in basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, workforce development, small business and entrepreneurship, and health access projects in the 252 counties and parishes of the eight-state Delta region. DRA coordinates directly with Tennessee’s three planning and development districts in the region for program funding implementation. DRA leadership works closely with the governor of each state and his board designee to identify projects to receive SEDAP investments, which are aligned with state economic development goals. These federal investments require a minimal investment of state funds that can bring a large return in DRA and other agency funding and result in a great economic impact for the Delta region of Tennessee. Media Contact: John Collins, press@dra.gov About the Delta Regional Authority The Delta Regional Authority is a federal-state partnership created by Congress in 2000 to help create jobs, build communities, and improve lives through strategic investments in economic development in 252 counties and parishes across eight states. To date, the DRA’s SEDAP investments, together with its state and local partners, have leveraged $138 million in federal resources into more than $2.9 billion in public and private investment into local small business owners, entrepreneurs, workers, and infrastructure development projects. These investments have helped create or retain more than 26,000 jobs since the DRA was established. Learn more at dra.gov. |