Monday, December 04, 2006

Arkansas Congressional Delegation Announces $1.2 Million in Delta Regional Authority Funds

The Arkansas Congressional Delegation today announced five Arkansas Delta projects that will receive funding awards from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA). This is the fifth consecutive year the federal commission has issued grant awards.

The DRA, a federal agency established by Congress in 2000, is designed to channel resources, aid and guidance for economic development to the Mississippi Delta region. Of the eight member states covered by the DRA, Arkansas’ FY 2006 share is the second highest, with $1,199,395 for the following five projects:

$431,820 City of Monticello-- Drew County
This funding will be used to construct water system improvements for the city of Monticello. A 250,000- gallon elevated water tank will be built on land owned by the city and larger water mains will be installed.

$300,000 Southside Public Water Authority-- Independence County
This funding will assist with acquisition and construction costs for a wastewater treatment plant. An estimated 600 households and businesses will be connected to public sewer once the project is completed.

$233,675 Southern Arkansas University Tech-- Calhoun, Ouachita, Dallas, Union Counties
This funding will help support the institution’s training consortium project. The project will provide advanced manufacturing training to incumbent workers and improve SAU Tech’s advanced manufacturing training laboratories by upgrading software and equipment. There will be a minimum of 325 employees trained in 13 organized classes available for incumbent workers.

$155,000 Chicot-Desha Metropolitan Port Authority-- Chicot, Desha Counties
This funding will support improvements to the transportation infrastructure by adding a barge winch system, access between the conveyor belt support structure and barges loading area, and access between the crane structure and the barge area. These improvements will be to port-owned facilities.

$78, 900 City of Tuckerman-- Jackson County
This funding will assist with the installation of a generator that will keep the City’s water treatment plant in operation during power outages.