Arkansas’s Five-Year Delta Development Plan for the Delta Regional Authority
2009-2014
Mike Beebe, Governor Chris Masingill, Designee and Alternate February 2009 First Edition Special Thanks to the Members of Arkansas’s Five-Year Delta Development Plan Working Group
Arkansas Economic Development Southeast Arkansas Economic Commission Development District Morris Jenkins Glenn Bell Kurt Naumann Southwest Arkansas Planning & Jean Noble Development District Delta Regional Authority Terry Sherwood Bill Triplett White River Planning & Delta Center for Economic Development, Development District Arkansas State University Van C. Thomas Alan McVey Office of Governor Mike Beebe Economic Research & Development Center, Christopher A. Masingill University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Amanda M. Richardson Henry Golatt Office of Senator Blanche Lincoln Institute for Economic Advancement, Cydney Pierce University of Arkansas at Little Rock Donna Kay Yeargan Inderpreet (Sunny) Farmaham Tonya Hass Office of Senator Mark Pryor Susan Jackson Randy Massanelli Jim Youngquist Office of Congressman Vic Snyder Central Arkansas Planning & Dexter Pearson Development District Amanda White Rodney Larson Office of Congressman Marion Berry East Arkansas Planning & Erika Krennerich Development District Richard Spelic Office of Congressman Mike Ross Jeff Weaver Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District Office of Congressman John Boozman J. Mike Norton Stacey McClure STATE OF ARKANSAS MIKE BEEBE GOVERNOR
February 13, 2009 Dear Economic Developer: Rural Arkansas and the Delta, in particular, are experiencing fundamental economic changes. The region has suffered for decades from extreme poverty, population migration, and an eroding economic base. Federal programs tend to be inflexible, and local communities are often unable to meet the requirements these programs entail. We are looking at deeply rooted problems that require high-level answers. We must all put aside historical differences to ensure that a strategic plan for economic and social change will allow the Delta to become more competitive in the twenty-first-century global economy. Therefore, it is with pleasure that I present Arkansas’s Five-Year Delta Development Plan, which serves as a state-level companion to the Delta Regional Authority’s Regional Development Plan. It should be thought of as a guide for local communities, economic developers, elected officials, and planning-and-development districts throughout the Arkansas Delta seeking Delta Regional Authority Grant funding. Arkansas’s Five-Year Delta Development Plan sets funding criteria that allows flexibility, and provides leverage for other dollars. Priority projects will be reviewed based on their relationship to a current economic and business development opportunity, regional impact, collaborative funding, and the critical needs of a local area. Raising prosperity levels in the Arkansas Delta has to start with partnerships at the regional level. Developed through group efforts to exchange information about the needs and priorities of stakeholders, this plan represents input from planning-and-development districts, congressional offices, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, representatives from higher education, and my office. Special thanks go to Jean Noble and Kurt Naumann of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, as well as to Jim Youngquist and the UALR Institute for Economic Advancement, for their extensive work on this project. I hope you will take advantage of this plan. I appreciate your continued dedication to improving the Delta for all people. Sincerely,
Mike Beebe
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STATE CAPITOL , SUITE 250 • LITTLE ROCK , AR 72201 TELEPHONE (501) 682-2345 • FAX (501) 682-1382 INTERNET WEB SITE • www.governor.arkansas.gov Governor Mike Beebe Christopher A. Masingill, Designee and Alternate State Capitol Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2345 http://www.governor.arkansas.gov
Senator Blanche Lincoln Senator Mark Pryor 912 West 4th Street 500 President Clinton Avenue Little Rock, AR 72201 Suite 401 (501) 375-2993 Little Rock, AR 72201 Toll Free: (800) 352-9364 (501) 324-6336 FAX: (501) 375-7064 Toll Free: (877) 259-9602 http://lincoln.senate.gov FAX: (501) 324-5320 Email: [email protected]
Congressman Marion Berry Congressman Mike Ross 108 E. Huntington Avenue 100 E. 8th Street, Rm 2521 Jonesboro, AR 72401 Pine Bluff, AR 71601-5069 (870) 972-4600 (870) 536-3376 Toll Free: (800) 866-2701 FAX: (870) 536-4058 FAX: (870) 972-4605 http://www.house.gov/ross/ http://www.house.gov/berry/ Email: [email protected]
Congressman John Boozman Congressman Vic Snyder Regions Plaza 1501 N. University, Suite 150 303 N. Main Street, Suite 102 Little Rock, AR 72207 Harrison, AR 72601 (501) 324-5941 (870) 741-6900 FAX: (501) 324-6029 FAX: (870) 741-7741 http://www.house.gov/snyder/ http://www.boozman.house.gov/ Email: www.house.gov/writerep/ Arkansas Delta Region Planning and Economic Development Districts
Central Arkansas Planning and Northwest Arkansas Economic Southwest Arkansas Planning Development District Development District and Development District P.O. Box 300 P.O. Box 190 P.O. Box 767 902 Center Street 818 Highway 62-65-412 North 101 Business Park Drive Lonoke, AR 72086 Harrison, AR 72602-0190 Magnolia, AR 71753 Phone: (501) 676-2721 Phone: (870) 741-5404 Phone: (870) 234-4030 FAX: (501) 676-5020 FAX: (870) 741-1905 FAX: (870) 234-0135 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Contact: Libby Fort Executive Director: J. Mike Norton Contact: Terry Sherwood, Renee Dycus Executive Director: Rodney Larsen 3 DRA Counties Served: [email protected] [email protected] Baxter, Marion, and Searcy Executive Director: Terry Sherwood 4 DRA Counties Served: Lonoke, Website: http://www.nwaedd.org 4 DRA Counties Served: Calhoun, Monroe, Prairie, and Pulaski Dallas, Ouachita, and Union Website: http://www.capdd.org Website: http://www.swapdd.com
East Arkansas Planning and Southeast Arkansas Economic White River Planning and Development District Development District Development District P.O. Box 1403 P.O. Box 6806 P.O. Box 2396 2905 King Street 721 Walnut Street 1652 White Drive Jonesboro, AR 72403 Pine Bluff, AR 71611 Batesville, AR 72501 Phone: (870) 932-3957 Phone: (870) 536-1971 Phone: (870) 793-5233 FAX: (870) 932-0135 FAX: (870) 536-7718 FAX: (870) 793-4035 Email: [email protected], Email: [email protected], Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Contact: Mitzi Hargan, Jan Smith Executive Director: Richard Spelic Executive Director: Glenn Bell [email protected], [email protected] 12 DRA Counties Served: 10 DRA Counties Served: Executive Director: Van Thomas Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, 9 DRA Counties Served: Fulton, Cross, Greene, Lawrence, Lee, Chicot, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Mississippi, Phillips, Poinsett, Grant, Jefferson, and Lincoln Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, White, Randolph, and St. Francis and Woodruff Website: http://www.eapdd.com Website: http://www.wrpdd.org
For Statewide Technical Assistance, Contact: Jean Noble Arkansas Economic Development Commission One Capitol Mall Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-1121 [email protected]
Table of Contents
I. Brief Overview of the Arkansas Delta 1 1. Geography 1 2. Economy 3 3. Infrastructure 4 4. Socio-Economic Indicators 4
II. Developing a New DRA Funding Plan for Arkansas 7 1. DRA Funding Considerations 7 2. Governor Mike Beebe’s Economic Development Goals, 9 Guiding Principles and Performance Measures 3. Governor Mike Beebe’s Priorities for DRA Funding 12 4. DRA Federal Grant Program Funding Priorities 13
III. Alignment of DRA Mission and Goals 17 1. Goal 1 17 2. Goal 2 20 3. Goal 3 24
IV. Application Process 29 1. Planning and Development Districts 29 2. Public Input Forum Recommendations 31 3. Communication of Plan 32 4. Application Considerations 33
V. Appendices and Project Checklist 41
Executive Summary
or too long, fragmented These goals align symbiotically with the community and economic economic goals of Arkansas Governor development efforts have Mike Beebe, whose commitment to Fhindered growth in the Delta region. economic planning and development was As a result, many of its counties have immediate upon inauguration in 2007. languished economically, resulting in Recognizing that Arkansas was not fully stagnant growth, pervasive poverty and prepared to compete for knowledge-based unacceptably high unemployment rates. jobs, Governor Mike Beebe developed a five-year strategic plan for economic Recognizing this challenge, the Delta development based upon five goals. Regional Authority (DRA) developed a new Regional Development Plan focused on three strategic goals:
DRA Strategic Goals
Goal 1: To advance the productivity and economic competitiveness of the Delta workforce
Goal 2: To strengthen the Delta’s physical and digital connections to the global economy
Goal 3: To create critical mass within the Delta
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com I Governor Mike Beebe’s Five Goals for Economic Development
1. We will increase the incomes of Arkansans at a growth pace greater than the national average.
2. We will expand entrepreneurship focusing on knowledge-based enterprises.
3. We will compete more effectively in the global marketplace for new business, jobs, and create a business retention strategy to reduce closures.
4. Our economic development policy will meet the special needs and take advantage of the extraordinary assets of various areas of the state. It will not be one size fits all.
5. We will increase the number of workers with post secondary training so they are prepared when they enter the workforce and equipped for new jobs in the future.
Each of these goals support five In establishing priorities for DRA interdependent economic development funding, Governor Mike Beebe chose components – workforce development, flexible criteria that maximize economic business development, economic impact and align with DRA and Arkansas development infrastructure, competitive Strategic Plan goals. To receive DRA business climate and collaborative funding consideration, applicants must partnerships – that comprise the demonstrate that their project falls blueprint for Arkansas’s economic under one of the following categories. development strategy. Transcending each of these components are the concepts of regionalism and collaboration.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan II www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com Governor Mike Beebe’s Priorities for DRA Funding Economic and Business Development
Regional Impact
Collaborative Funding
Critical Needs Funding
Applications for DRA funding that The actions outlined within this plan will correspond to the above-stated result in collaborative, regional projects goals and priorities will receive that will better utilize scarce resources to the highest funding consideration. stimulate capital and human investment. Eligible projects include but are not Governor Mike Beebe will continue to limited to basic public infrastructure, work closely with officials throughout transportation infrastructure, business the Delta region, especially planning and development and job training. economic development districts and the Federal Congressional delegation, to The success of Arkansas’s DRA projects ensure that regional projects are funded. will be evaluated based upon the following performance measures: the It is with great pleasure that Governor extent that they help create or retain Mike Beebe presents Arkansas’s jobs, their regional economic impact, and Five Year Delta Development Plan the capacity of the project to leverage for the Delta Regional Authority in additional public and private investment. accordance with the Delta Regional Authority Act of 2000, as amended.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com III
Brief Overview of the Arkansas Delta
1. GEOGRAPHY
The Arkansas Delta is a vast geographic Delta Counties –42– ranks third among area encompassing the entire eastern half DRA states, behind only Louisiana’s 56 of Arkansas. The number of Arkansas parishes and Mississippi’s 46 counties.
Figure 1: Delta Regional Authority States1
Ohio
Indiana West Virginia
Illinois Kansas Missouri Kentucky Virginia
North Carolina Tennessee
Oklahoma
Arkansas South Carolina
Alabama Georgia Mississippi
Texas Louisiana
Florida
DRA Counties Non-DRA Counties
1 Delta Regional Authority. “Rethinking the Delta: 2008-2013 Regional Development Plan,” June 2008, 1.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 1 More than half – 27,945 Figure 2: DRA Land Area square miles – of Arkansas’s Percent of State Area Within DRA Boundaries total land area lies within DRA 100% boundaries.2 Only Louisiana 83% and Mississippi boast more.
Further, half of all Arkansans 57% 54% call the Delta Region home.3 50% 33% 27% 26% 19% 11%
0% LA MS AR AL MO TN KY IL
Figure 3: DRA Population Percent of State Population Within DRA Boundaries
80% 73% 70%
60% 53% 50% 49%
40%
30% 25% 20% 12% 11% 10% 9% 3% 0% LAMS AR TN KY MO AL IL
2 Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, American Fact Finder, online; accessed 31 Dec. 2008; available from http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en 3 Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, County Population Estimates, online; accessed 31 Dec. 2008, available from http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2007-01.html
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 2 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 2. ECONOMY counties produce a variety of products including chemicals, defense products Predominantly rural, a majority of the and fuels. Northeastern Arkansas’s Arkansas Delta is comprised of sparsely economy is supported by agriculture, populated counties influenced by “county manufacturing, transportation and seat” cities that serve as centers of services. Principle manufacturing government, manufacturing, commerce, industries include metals, transportation transportation, education, and medical equipment, food and kindred services. Generally, the hinterland of each products, and industrial equipment. county seat supports natural resource- based businesses such as farming, West central Arkansas Delta counties forestry, light manufacturing, etc. (including Jefferson, Lonoke, Pulaski and White) are decidedly urban (50,000 or Agriculture-based businesses, relying on more population) and support diverse crop, catfish, hardwood, and softwood economies that influence a significant timber production, dominate the portion of central Arkansas.5 economies of southern and eastern Arkansas Delta counties. Crop farming is Arkansas’s Delta is also a paradise most prevalent in eastern counties along for hunters and anglers worldwide. the Mississippi River; timber production Arkansas’s waterways and rice fields is widespread throughout all southern provide a natural duck habitat while counties; and, catfish production is immense forests nurture deer, turkey concentrated in southeastern counties. and other animals. Sport fishing on Arkansas’s rivers, lakes, streams, and Fertile Arkansas Delta soil produces more ox-bow lakes draws sports enthusiasts rice than any other state and significant from throughout the United States. amounts of cotton (2nd nationally) Such recreational amenities bolster and soybeans (10th nationally).4 tourism as a major component of the Livestock production, tourism/recreation, Delta economy. Additionally, the retail retiree-relocation, light manufacturing and service economies of many Delta and health care are the principal economic communities are bolstered by an influx activities of northwest Arkansas Delta of consumer spending from intermediate counties. In addition to forest product travelers whose ultimate destinations production, southwest Arkansas Delta transcend Arkansas boundaries.
4 J. Popp, N. Kemper and W. Miller, Impact of the Agricultural Sector on the Arkansas Economy in 2006, Research Report 981, Fayetteville, AR: Arkansas Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, 2008, 11. 5 For listings of major employers in these counties see: Major Employers by County, http://www.arkansasedc.com/data-center/reports-and-publications/major-employers-by-county.aspx
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 3 3. INFRASTRUCTURE 4. SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS Despite the Delta’s sparse population and relative isolation, several of its Despite pockets of prosperity, major cities have worked diligently to many Arkansas Delta counties are improve infrastructure capacity. As economically distressed. From 1997 a result, many of the region’s major to 2007, 22 of Arkansas’s 42 Delta cities have main line rail service or counties lost population.6 Population links to Class I railroads through a loss is exceptionally devastating comprehensive network of short line to economic development due railroads. The state’s premier multimodal to its direct relationship to: transportation facility, Union Pacific’s $70 Local tax bases to pay for million, 600-acre facility near Marion in infrastructure and services Crittenden County, provides enhanced opportunities for industrial recruitment. Labor force quantity and quality for new and existing businesses The Delta also has exceptional port potential. Ports at Helena, Little Rock, School enrollment Pine Bluff, West Memphis, and Yellow Housing stock Bend (near McGehee) provide services that can support many types of industry. Cultural contributions
Highway improvements continue Arkansas’s Delta counties are also throughout the Delta. Prospective plagued by high unemployment and highway projects, such as I-69, poverty rates; however, average per prioritized in the Arkansas Highway capita personal income (pcpi) is on and Transportation Department’s State par with Arkansas’s. This can be Transportation Improvement Plan and the attributed to Pulaski County’s skewing DRA’s Delta Development Highway System of the data. As the maps in Appendix provide hope for future development. A show, most counties’ economic indicators are below state averages.
6 Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, State Population Estimates, online; accessed 30 Dec. 2008, available from http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 4 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com Figure 4: Unemployment Rates7 Figure 6: Poverty Rates9 2007 Annual Unemployment Rates 2007 Annual Poverty Rates
7% 20% 18.5% 6.2% 17.6% 6% 15% 5.4% 13.0% 10% 5% 4.6% 5% 4% 0% AR Delta United 3% Arkansas Counties States 2%
1%
0% AR Delta United Arkansas Counties States
Figure 5: Per Capita Personal Income8 2006 Annual Per Capita Personal Income
$40,000 $36,714
$30,000 $28,881 $28,473
$20,000
$10,000
$0 AR Delta United Arkansas Counties States
7 Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, Unemployment Rates and Labor Force Statistics, online: accessed 5 Jan. 2009, available from http://www.discoverarkansas.net/cgi/dataanalysis/AreaSelection.asp?tableName=Labforce 8 Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Per Capita Personal Income, online; accessed 5 Jan. 2009, available from http://www.bea.gov/regional/reis/ 9 Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Poverty, online; accessed 5 Jan. 2009, available from http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty.html
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 5
Developing a New DRA Funding Plan for Arkansas
1. DRA FUNDING Business development with an CONSIDERATIONS emphasis on entrepreneurship.
(Arkansas’s DRA allocation for 2008 Job training with an emphasis was $1.162 million. These funds may on using existing public be used to leverage other federal and education institutions. state programs.) Traditionally, a majority of Arkansas’s Since 2002, the DRA has provided grants have leveraged funding for much- $9,935,03010 in grants to Arkansas for the needed “bricks and mortar” infrastructure following types of eligible projects: projects that have been the cornerstone Basic public infrastructure in of traditional economic development. As distressed counties. Under a result, hundreds of jobs were created Federal law, at least 75 percent and dozens of economically distressed of DRA funds must be invested communities have improved. in economically distressed However, the Delta Regional Authority counties and parishes. and Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe Transportation infrastructure for both agree that traditional models of the purpose of facilitating economic community and economic development development. Federal law also are fragmented and insufficient for requires that half of DRA funds building a knowledge-based economy. be earmarked for transportation Success in the 21st century will and basic infrastructure projects. accrue to those regions that develop
10 Data compiled from Delta Regional Authority, Federal Grant Program Profile, p. 26, online; accessed 06 Jan. 2009 at http://www.dra.gov/pdfs/FGP_Profile_JBook_2007.pdf and 2008 allocation at http://www.dra.gov/state-grant-funding/fy2008/state_allocations.aspx
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 7 integrated, cohesive plans that prioritize This vision led to the development of development of a highly skilled/educated three strategic goals that are the impetus workforce. behind the regional and state DRA plans. Acknowledging the challenge to create DRA Strategic Goals a single vision that integrates existing programs while taking into account Goal 1: To advance the traditional performance measures, productivity and economic the DRA created a new Delta vision competitiveness of the focused on the competitiveness Delta workforce of the Delta workforce: Goal 2: To strengthen the VISION: Delta’s physical and digital connections to After decades of decline, the the global economy Delta Region will achieve a pattern of sustained Goal 3: To create critical mass growth. Increasing capital within the Delta investment and productivity will establish the region as a magnet for talent As section 2 below explains, Governor and innovation, and will Mike Beebe’s Strategic Plan for Economic nurture a sense of place Development provides a blueprint within each community.11 for building Arkansas’s 21st century economy. It is fortuitous that many of recommendations contained in this plan are consistent with DRA’s goals.
11 “Rethinking the Delta,” 3.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 8 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 2. GOVERNOR MIKE BEEBE’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS, GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES12
Recognizing that Arkansas was not fully community and economic development prepared to compete for knowledge- stakeholders and reviewing historic based economic opportunities, and current planning efforts13 to Governor Mike Beebe developed a determine the strategic direction that five-year strategic plan for economic Arkansas should follow. This data led development based upon five goals. to the development of five guiding Development of the plan involved principles that shaped development of interviewing a large cross-section of five economic development components.
Governor Mike Beebe’s Five Goals for Economic Development
1. We will increase the incomes of Arkansans at a growth pace greater than the national average. 2. We will expand entrepreneurship focusing on knowledge-based enterprises. 3. We will compete more effectively in the global marketplace for new business, jobs, and create a business retention strategy to reduce closures. 4. Our economic development policy will meet the special needs and take advantage of the extraordinary assets of various areas of the state. It will not be one size fits all. 5. We will increase the number of workers with post secondary training so they are prepared when they enter the workforce and equipped for new jobs in the future.
12 The information contained within this section is derived from “Governor Mike Beebe’s Strategic Plan for Economic Development,” (2009), 12-14. 13 For example of current efforts see: Building a Knowledge-based Economy in Arkansas: Strategic Recommendations by Accelerate Arkansas; online at http://www.acceleratearkansas.com/BuildingKnowledgebasedEconomyArkansas.pdf and Building a 21st Century Economy in Arkansas online at http://www.taskforce21.arkansas.gov/pdf/final_report2008.pdf
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 9 GUIDING PRINCIPLES PERFORMANCE MEASURES
1. To generate wealth for Arkansans, The success of Arkansas’s DRA projects the state requires a systematic will be evaluated based upon the plan causing a transition to following performance measures: an economy supported by 1. The extent that they help knowledge-based jobs. create or retain jobs. 2. All state economic development 2. The regional economic practices and processes must impact of the project. be evaluated to guarantee efficiencies of operation and 3. The capacity of the project mission focus. Inefficient to leverage additional public processes should be corrected and private investment. immediately, while others must be evaluated over time to determine ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT if they are properly focused. COMPONENTS
3. Scarce and diffused economic Economic development is a system resources mandate a coordination comprised of five interdependent of efforts to transition the Arkansas components: workforce development, economy to an economy supported business development, economic by knowledge-based jobs. development infrastructure, competitive business climate and 4. Regions must be provided the collaborative partnerships. Each needed tools to control their component is augmented by a vast own economic development. array of resources — people, capital, 5. A new approach to state and entities and policies — that collectively regional economic development support economic growth. funding must be employed These five components establish to ensure that resources are the basis for Governor Mike Beebe’s predictable. Such an approach priorities for DRA funding. will allow funds to be committed efficiently and equitably.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 10 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com Figure 7: Economic Development Components
Workforce Development
Collaborative Business Partnerships Development
Competitive Economic Business Development Climate Infrastructure
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 11 3. GOVERNOR MIKE BEEBE’S region confirmed that one of the greatest PRIORITIES FOR benefits of DRA funding is its flexibility. DRA FUNDING Given the long-range nature of both the DRA plan and Governor Mike Beebe’s Strategic Governor Mike Beebe believed that the Plan for Economic Development, it would best way to implement DRA’s plan was be most advantageous to prioritize projects to establish flexible funding categories based on broad parameters that maximize that would maximize goal attainment. cost-effectiveness, leveraging of resources, A prefatory meeting on November 12, and economic impact. As a result, Governor 2008 with Arkansas’s six planning and Beebe established the following categories development district directors in the Delta as priorities for DRA funding:
Governor Mike Beebe’s Priorities for DRA Funding Economic and Business Development
Regional Impact
Collaborative Funding
Critical Needs Funding
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 12 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com Each applicant for DRA funds must 4. DRA FEDERAL GRANT also demonstrate that their project is PROGRAM FUNDING consistent with the goals and objectives PRIORITIES of both the DRA plan and Arkansas’s Historically, applicants for DRA Strategic Plan for Economic Development, funding in Arkansas have submitted and that their project has received projects that are consistent with Congressional input and support. the following Federal priorities. Projects chosen to receive critical needs Basic public infrastructure in funding could include aging or failing distressed counties. Under infrastructure which pose an eminent Federal law, at least 75 percent public health or safety risk. Critical of DRA funds must be invested needs funding will be made available in economically distressed for projects in urgent circumstances. counties and parishes. The success of Arkansas’s DRA projects Transportation infrastructure for will be evaluated based upon the the purpose of facilitating economic following performance measures: the development. Federal law also extent that they help create or retain requires that half of DRA funds jobs, their regional economic impact, and be earmarked for transportation the capacity of the project to leverage and basic infrastructure projects. additional public and private investment. Business development with an Note: In addition to meeting Governor emphasis on entrepreneurship. Mike Beebe’s funding priorities and economic planning goals, all requests Job training with an emphasis for DRA funding must meet federal on using existing public requirements as specified by law. education institutions.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 13 All applications for assistance must be especially development districts and the consistent with all of the above criteria. Federal delegation, to ensure that regional This will result in collaborative, regional funding priorities are timely considered. planning and development that will better Figure 8 on page 14 illustrates the entire utilize scarce resources to stimulate funding prioritization system described in capital and human investment. Governor Section II of this plan. To assist applicants, Mike Beebe will continue to work closely a Grant Eligibility and Priority Checklist with officials throughout the Delta region, has been provided in the appendix.
Figure 8: Arkansas DRA Funding Priorities
ELIGIBLE DRA FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM PROJECTS: • Basic Public Infrastructure • Transportation Infrastructure • Business Development Entrepreneurship Emphasis • Job Training
GOVERNOR BEEBE’S DRA FUNDING PRIORITIES: • Economic and Business Development • Regional Impact • Collaborative Funding • Critical Needs Funding
STATEWIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS: • Income Growth • Entrepreneurship & Knowledge-based Enterprise • Global Competitiveness/Business Retention • Flexible Policy • Post Secondary Education/Workforce Training
DRA STRATEGIC GOALS: • Competitive, Productive Workforce • Physical and Digital Economic Connectivity • Critical Mass
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 14 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com
Alignment of DRA Mission and Goals to Governor Mike Beebe’s Strategic Plan for Economic Development
MISSION ALIGNMENT GOAL ALIGNMENT The synthesis of Governor Mike Each of Governor Mike Beebe’s five Beebe’s Strategic Plan for Economic economic development goals are supported Development is the enhancement of implicitly in DRA’s mission and explicitly regional economic development through within the context of the DRA plan’s three collaborative planning, funding and major goals. Below is a summary of how partnerships. DRA’s mission statement, each DRA goal supports the goals and which stresses regional collaboration, action items of Governor Mike Beebe’s aligns very closely with Governor Strategic Plan for Economic Development. Beebe’s economic development vision. Projects that meet the objectives of each DRA goal stated below will receive THE DRA MISSION: priority consideration for funding. To serve as a regional focal point for resources, planning, DRA Strategic Goal and ideas. The DRA will be a Goal 1: To advance the catalyst for investment in the productivity and economic communities and in the people competitiveness of the of the Mississippi Delta.14 Delta workforce
It is no coincidence that Governor Mike Beebe’s Strategic Plan for Economic Development and DRA’s Regional
14 “Rethinking the Delta,” 3.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 17 Development Plan each list workforce average.17 Healthier Arkansans can also development as a primary goal/ enhance business productivity through component of economic development. reduced absenteeism and lower health The DRA plan clearly states, “a care costs to employers. competitive workforce…provides specific Successful implementation of the direction for all of DRA’s programs.”15 strategies identified under DRA Goal Governor Beebe emphatically 1 will help Arkansas achieve each of acknowledges the importance of Governor Mike Beebe’s goals. Projects workforce by stating “the success of that meet the objectives of each goal the strategic plan is predicated on stated below will receive priority advancing a streamlined workforce consideration for funding. development system that focuses Goal 1: We will increase the resources on increasing educational incomes of Arkansans at a attainment at all levels and enhancing the growth pace greater than technical skills required by knowledge- the national average. based employers.”16 This system must involve all post-secondary educational Healthier Arkansans can significantly institutions, and encompass all existing enhance workforce productivity and and future educational processes, reduce health care costs thus raising workforce training curriculum and labor the personal income of Arkansans and force development programs. earnings of businesses. Continued support of the Healthy Delta Initiative, Although the emphasis of Governor Mike a program that provides free health Beebe’s Strategic Plan for Economic screenings, resource assessments and Development is on attainment of outreach services – particularly its workforce knowledge and skills, it emphasis on diabetes prevention and is believed that healthier Arkansans treatment – is a commendable and can increase the state’s workforce viable economic development goal. participation rate which is currently 62.5 percent –3.5 percent below the national
15 “Rethinking the Delta,” 5. 16 “Governor Mike Beebe’s Strategic Plan for Economic Development,” 25. 17 Data calculated as a ratio of Arkansas labor force to working age population from Arkansas Department of Workforce and Bureau of Census data.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 18 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com Goal 2: We will expand these doctors can help alleviate entrepreneurship focusing on physician shortages throughout the knowledge-based enterprises. Arkansas Delta. Regional strategic plans can identify these specific needs Prospective knowledge-based workers and design solutions encompassing demand comprehensive health care DRA programs that will increase services – “critical mass” variables that the region’s quality of place. Use are prerequisites to building viable of mobile sources of technology to local regions. Continued funding of bring healthcare services to Delta the Delta Doctors program to increase residents must be maximized. the number of doctors serving Delta Mobile health and dental services residents, will secure additional can bring diagnostic, treatment and health care services and make the rehabilitation services to isolated Delta a more viable place to live. areas of the Delta where facilities Goal 3: We will compete more do not exist or where transportation effectively in the global resources are unavailable to residents. marketplace for new business, jobs, and create a Goal 5: We will increase the number business retention strategy of workers with post to reduce closures. secondary training so they are prepared when they enter Successful business recruitment the workforce and equipped and retention programs mandate for new jobs in the future. comprehensive health care services for prospective workers. DRA objective 1.5 specifically proposes strengthening workforce education Goal 4: Our economic development and professional skills programs policy will meet the special at post secondary institutes. The needs and take advantage of feasibility of establishing a Delta the extraordinary assets of Institute will be determined in various areas of the state. It the fourth year of DRA’s five-year will not be one size fits all. plan. Governor Mike Beebe will Health care shortages continue to encourage economic developers plague a significant portion of the at the state and regional level to Delta. Continued recruitment of participate in this feasibility study.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 19 DRA Strategic Goal BROADBAND As information technology progresses, Goal 2: To strengthen the broadband connectivity has become Delta’s physical and a required infrastructure component. digital connections to Many Delta counties lack adequate the global economy access to a robust telecommunications infrastructure. This has exacerbated the region’s geographical isolation and served As the scope of economic development as a barrier to economic, educational, has broadened, so has the definition of medical and other benefits that areas infrastructure. Economic developers have outside the region have enjoyed for years. traditionally viewed infrastructure as The problem is particularly acute in the those physical structures and services such region’s most distressed counties. These as roads, utilities and buildings that are are lower-income areas where poverty necessary for residential and commercial and unemployment rates are substantially development. As information technology higher than state and national averages has proliferated, telecommunication assets (see Appendix A). Broadband services can have been integrated into the definition. improve health care, open educational Today, economic developers consider opportunities, stimulate economic workforce, intellectual property and development, forge community and social other non-structural resources as “soft” bonds, improve access to communications infrastructure components. Defined most systems for people with disabilities, broadly, infrastructure can refer to almost and enhance public safety.18 Citing a any resource that contributes to economic report by the CSE Freedom Foundation, development. Several planning studies the Arkansas Capital Corporation (ACC) have identified specific infrastructure maintains that bringing broadband needs in Arkansas or have noted the Internet to the entire state could create specific benefits that investments can 8,200 new jobs and add $2.6 billion generate. annually to the Gross State Product.19
Successful implementation of the infra- In 2005, the DRA board recommended structure strategies identified below will enhancing information technology as receive priority consideration for funding. a top policy priority. In furtherance of
18 Peter Backof. Broadband Initiatives: Enhancing Lives and Transforming Communities, Alliance for Public Technology, Nov. 2007, 5. 19 Andrew Jensen, “Connect Arkansas Aims to Expand Broadband,” Arkansas Business Today, 1 Jan. 2009.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 20 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com this policy, a plan – “iDelta: Information project descriptions, priority status and Technology in the Delta,” – was estimated costs for each DDHS corridor in commissioned and released in May Arkansas is available online. 2007. Goals of the plan are to improve AIRPORTS education, enhance entrepreneurship and improve health care with information Air and water ports, too, are important technology. The plan provides data resources for economic growth. on the capacity and utilization of The Arkansas State Airport System information technology in the region Plan,21 commissioned by the Arkansas and recommendations for expanding Department of Aeronautics, evaluated the availability, usage and awareness of future aviation demand for each airport information technology. based upon economic impact and projected activity. The plan recommends HIGHWAYS $353.5 million in improvements Traditional transportation infrastructure statewide over the 20-year planning continues to influence corporate period to meet benchmarks and facility/ location decisions. Such projects should service objectives. prioritize regional accessibility. The Delta WATER PORTS Development Highway System (DDHS) was developed in collaboration with Both the Arkansas State Public Riverport each state’s highway and transportation Study and Needs Assessment22 and department. The DDHS plan proposes the Arkansas Statewide Long-Range numerous highway improvement projects Intermodal Plan23 provide an overview of designed to improve 704 miles of roads river port needs in Arkansas. The ports in Arkansas. Improvements consist of in the DRA region that were evaluated widening and upgrading portions of include the Ports of Camden, Crossett, Highways 49, 67, 65/82, 167, 412, 425, Helena Harbor, Little Rock, Osceola, Pine 530 and I-69. A detailed table20 of Bluff, West Memphis and Yellow Bend.
20 Delta Regional Authority, “Delta Development Highway System Plan,” online; accessed 2 Jan. 2009, available from http://www.dra.gov/pdfs/transportation/5.%20Arkansas.pdf, 29. 21 Arkansas Department of Aeronautics, “Arkansas State Airport System Plan,” 2006. 22 Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, Planning and Research Division, “Arkansas State Public Riverport Study and Needs Assessment,” March 2005. 23 Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, “Arkansas Statewide Long-Range Intermodal Plan,” online; accessed 7 Jan 2009, available from http://www.arkansashighways.com/Publications.htm
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 21 Undoubtedly, traditional infrastructure counties in Western, Central and needs will forever exceed available East-Central Arkansas through land revenues. As state and federal and mineral rights leasing, drilling, revenues continue to decrease, it will be production, transportation, gas services incumbent upon regions to thoroughly and “induced” service sector jobs. assess, prioritize, communicate and Preliminary estimates project a short- fund infrastructure projects to ensure term (2008-2012) economic impact of maximum return on investment. $17.9 billion in expenditures, creation An increase in local and regional of nearly 11,000 jobs, and $1.9 billion funding through Regional Mobility in state and local tax revenue.24 As partnerships leveraged with state long as natural gas prices remain high, and federal sources such as DRA are drilling and production is expected to needed to fund prioritized projects. increase significantly in the next few years and could remain viable for 15- Finally, infrastructure, in the form of 25 years. Currently four counties in the distribution and transportation systems, Delta – Independence, Jackson, Van is critical to development of Arkansas’s Buren and White – have production natural resources such as bio-fuels and wells in the Fayetteville Shale Area. natural gas. Bio-based fuels and products (e.g., ethanol and biodiesel) are becoming Successful implementation of the strategies increasingly important to Arkansas’s identified under DRA Goal 2 will help economy. Many Arkansas corporations Arkansas achieve each of Governor Mike are in various phases of production. Beebe’s goals. Projects that meet the Forest biomass and rice hulls, too, are objectives of each goal stated below will potential feedstock for cellulosic bio-fuel receive priority consideration for funding. production. Because approximately 60 Goal 1: We will increase the percent of Arkansas is forest covered, incomes of Arkansans at a forest biomass may help Arkansas growth pace greater than sustain bio-fuel production, in the form the national average. of cellulosic ethanol, indefinitely. Advanced computer technology/ Production of natural gas from the infrastructure and training will Fayetteville Shale is significantly help businesses utilize e-commerce benefitting the economies of many applications to improve efficiency and
24 Kathy Deck, Projecting the Economic Impact of the Fayetteville Shale Play for 2008-2012, (Fayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas, Center for Business and Economic Research, 2008), iii-iv.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 22 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com productivity. As Delta residents obtain Existing and new businesses require technology training, their ability to broadband connectivity and vast pursue knowledge-based employment intermodal transportation networks to will increase. Educational instruction, conduct business in a global economy. supplemented by distance learning, Efficient, coordinated networks linking will bring new learning opportunities the entire Delta region will allow for throughout the Delta and increase the the dissemination of information and capacity of the workforce to qualify transportation of goods and services for skilled jobs. Such technology will throughout the region via internet, enhance the earnings potential of highways, bridges, railroads, airports, thousands of Delta residents, thus and water ports. The comprehensive increasing the incomes of Arkansans. statewide infrastructure plans discussed Finally, retention and recruitment of above identify specific projects in the high-paying industries is dependent Delta that can benefit from DRA funding. upon comprehensive infrastructure Finally, enhanced internet capabilities of assets. Economic growth attributable communities will increase their ability to infrastructure improvements will to transact business, attract residents grow the personal income of regions. and recruit business prospects.
Goal 2: We will expand Goal 4: Our economic development entrepreneurship focusing on policy will meet the special knowledge-based enterprises. needs and take advantage of Increased access to broadband the extraordinary assets of internet will expand the ability of various areas of the state. It entrepreneurs to start and grow will not be one size fits all. businesses in the Delta. New business Although Delta counties are blessed opportunities in emerging technologies with resources, particularly natural such as bio-energy resource resources, regionalization efforts development and production will are hampered by communication expand entrepreneurial opportunities. and transportation infrastructure Goal 3: We will compete more effectively deficiencies. Often the costs for in the global marketplace ameliorating these deficiencies for new business, jobs, and are beyond the scope of any create a business retention agency alone. Strategic plans must strategy to reduce closures. identify these needs regionally and
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 23 identify collaborative sources of “critical mass” needed to stimulate local, state and federal funding to regional economic growth. design and fund improvements. Further, a majority of the Delta’s Goal 5: We will increase the number historical growth centers that have of workers with post contributed so significantly to building secondary training so they critical mass are in various stages of are prepared when they enter decay. Many of these once influential the workforce and equipped cities are suffering from population, for new jobs in the future. workforce, housing and business decline. To build critical mass, it is important that Distance education and computer those cities that were once influential literacy training will help residents, growth centers be engaged to reverse especially secondary students, economic, social and political decline. better prepare for post secondary Regional strategic plans must carefully training and knowledge-based study ways to reinvigorize these cities employment upon graduation. and utilize existing resources to leverage DRA Strategic Goal new growth and future development. Therefore, regional strategic plans Goal 3: To create critical mass addressing how every community within the Delta can contribute to building regional “critical mass” must be developed. Today’s global businesses base location Critical Mass is defined as the decisions on criteria such as population/ underlying resources needed to stimulate labor mass, stratified housing stock, sustainable growth and investments. diverse cultural and social amenities, Critical mass communities are those extensive educational opportunities communities in which the necessary and comprehensive infrastructure elements exist in sufficient quantity to that can only be provided regionally. create and sustain a vital economy. Because most Delta communities lack fiscal resources and are losing population, it is virtually impossible for them to independently develop the
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 24 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com Table 1: Critical Mass Community Growth Characteristics
RANK CHARACTERISTICS EXAMPLES
1 Healthy People Improving life expectancy
2 Expanding Population People moving into a community
3 Skilled Workforce Jobs for skilled labor and professional occupations
4 Multi-Cultural Foreign-born people moving into a community
5 New Companies Jobs in companies started in the last five years
6 Entrepreneurial Culture Percentage of self-employed people in the workforce
7 Community-Wide Public school growth enrollment Culture of Learning
Despite their best intentions, most REGIONAL PLANNING local community development The key to building critical mass is not programs have fallen short of building to promote one particular model as the “critical mass” required for 21st the “gold standard” but to design a century growth. Governor Mike Beebe’s comprehensive process, couched in Strategic Plan for Economic Development regionalism, that allows communities to acknowledges the contributions that build critical mass through collaborative each of these programs have made but regional partnerships. Governor Mike recognizes that no one program can Beebe’s Strategic Plan for Economic be comprehensive enough to meet the Development emphatically states that needs of all communities. To reiterate the key to building strong communities one of Governor Mike Beebe’s economic lies in developing regional consortiums goals, “Our economic development and local/state/federal partnerships policy will meet the special needs and focused on economic development. take advantage of the extraordinary assets of various areas of the state. Fortunately, the region’s six planning It will not be one size fits all.” and development districts have fostered
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 25 these partnerships by engaging Goal 1: We will increase the incomes communities in a wide variety of of Arkansans at a growth pace community and economic development greater than the national average. activities, including regional planning Studies conducted for DRA have and grant administration. It is empirically determined which anticipated that the role of planning variables correlate to critical mass. and development districts as regional Each strategy identified by DRA will planners will enhance as a result of support Governor Mike Beebe’s goal Governor Mike Beebe’s Strategic to raise per capita personal income Plan for Economic Development. by increasing technology-based jobs Regional growth depends on community stimulated through innovation and development efforts that are holistic entrepreneurship. Additionally, and collaborative. Existing state regional economic development and federal programs can help build plans will determine which critical critical mass if they are coordinated to mass components need prioritization promote and reward regional economic to ensure economic growth. development initiatives. Ideally, Goal 2: We will expand regional and statewide plans should be entrepreneurship focusing on symbiotic. Fortunately, many recently- knowledge-based enterprises. developed regional plans are consistent with the goals of DRA and Governor Any entrepreneurial initiatives funded Mike Beebe. Projects consistent with in-part by the DRA will help leverage such goals should receive priority existing and proposed entrepreneurial consideration for DRA funding. actions identified in Arkansas. Such efforts will spur innovation and Successful implementation of the help diversify regional economies. strategies identified under DRA Goal 3 will help Arkansas achieve Goal 3: We will compete more each of Governor Mike Beebe’s goals. effectively in the global Projects that meet the objectives of marketplace for new each goal stated below will receive business, jobs, and create a priority consideration for funding. business retention strategy to reduce closures.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 26 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com Because quality of place is paramount future workforce. The State of to business retention and growth, Arkansas concurs in DRA’s policy that focusing on building critical a highly-trained knowledge-based mass will help Arkansas compete workforce will produce citizens with more effectively in the global skills needed for today’s jobs. DRA marketplace for new businesses funding proposals will be evaluated and jobs. All DRA efforts to build to ensure that they are consistant infrastructure – both physical and with creation of 21st century jobs. human – will support this goal.
Goal 4: Our economic development policy will meet the special needs and take advantage of the extraordinary assets of various areas of the state. It will not be one size fits all.
Regional focus on existing resources and alleviation of impediments to development will help communities create an economic development vision that builds upon their strengths. Such vision will ensure that a successful “local” strategy is developed.
Goal 5: We will increase the number of workers with post secondary training so they are prepared when they enter the workforce and equipped for new jobs in the future.
Entrepreneurial and leadership training will help prepare Arkansas’s
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 27 State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 28 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com Application Process
1. PLANNING AND stimulate growth. Arkansas’s six PDDs DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS located in the Delta (see Figure 9) will be the “front-line” facilitators within their Assisting the DRA are 44 Local districts, to publicize, educate and provide Development Districts (LDDs), known technical assistance for the DRA Federal as Planning and Development Districts Grant Program’s application process. (PDDs) or Economic Development Districts in Arkansas, from its eight-state These districts serve as a liaison between region. These regional entities have a the DRA and local governments, non-profit proven record of helping small cities and organizations, the business community, counties improve basic infrastructure and and citizens interested in working
Fulton Clay Benton Carroll Randolph Boone Marion Baxter Sharp Greene Izard Northwest Lawrence Washington Madison Figure 9: Arkansas Planning Newton Searcy Stone White River Craighead Mississippi and Development Districts Independence Crawford Johnson Van Buren Jackson Poinsett Franklin Cleburne Pope East Arkansas Delta Region Counties Cross Conway White Sebastian Logan Crittenden by Arkansas Planning and Faulkner Woodruff Western St. Francis Yell Development Districts Perry Scott Prairie Central Lee West Central Pulaski Lonoke Monroe Saline Source: University of Arkansas at Little Rock Garland Montgomery Polk GIS Applications Laboratory Phillips Hot Spring Grant Jefferson Arkansas Howard Institute for Economic Advancement Pike Clark Sevier http://argis.ualr.edu Dallas Lincoln Cleveland Desha (501) 569-8530 Southeast Little River Hempstead Nevada Ouachita Drew Calhoun Southwest Bradley
Miller Lafayette Chicot Columbia Ashley Arkansas PDDs Union Arkansas Delta Region
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 29 with DRA. In addition, they identify, The University of Arkansas at Little develop, and implement programs and Rock (UALR) Institute for Economic activities that educate local stakeholders Advancement, one of two EDA University about the DRA and its economic and Centers in Arkansas, works closely community development programs with communities and planning and through public hearings or input forums. development districts to provide data collection, analysis and dissemination; Statewide planning and development research; and training. The other districts in Arkansas engage in multifacted EDA university center is the Delta tasks directly related to regional Center at Arkansas State University. planning. Chief among these activities are community and economic planning/ Most importantly, the PDDs are GIS, business development financing, responsible for ensuring the suitability, grant writing and administration, waste completeness, eligibility, and quality of management, data collection and grant applications, as well as ensuring dissemination, workforce development, they are representative of the priorities and transportation planning. set forth by the Governor and the DRA.
The planning and development districts Additional services set out for the are a ready source of professional and districts may include: technical information and network Identifying and recommending extensively with state and federal to the Governor a list of priority resource agencies. All are proficient projects for DRA consideration in understanding the requirements of all state and most federal funding Providing a semiannual report sources including the Delta Regional of its activities to the DRA’s Authority, Department of Housing Federal Program Coordinator and Urban Development, Small Assisting the approved Business Administration, United States grantees by conducting the Department of Agriculture, Economic actual grant closing process Development Administration, Federal including document explanation, Emergency Management Administration, execution, and dissemination Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice, etc.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 30 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 2. PUBLIC INPUT FORUMS for private sector investment. Private RECOMMENDATIONS sector engagement is already occurring through the work of regional partnerships Arkansas is committed to following (See Appendix B) who work to promote the public input forum guidelines community and economic development. formulated by DRA and incorporates Strategies for increasing participation and them by reference into this section of engagement include: Arkansas’s Five Year Delta Development Plan for the Delta Regional Authority. Each public forum should include a presentation on local and As stated by the DRA, public forums regional business conditions and are committed to increasing public trends at an annual economic engagement and assuring grassroots forecast. Business leaders and input into its programs and processes by managers are not likely to have a bringing more citizens into the process of significant interest in participating building economic capacity in the Delta in a discussion exclusively about region. Forums are generally held annually federal infrastructure grants to by each of the local development districts non-profit organizations. The within the DRA territory to explain the key to generating greater interest DRA grant process and garner public input within the business community is into serious economic and community to provide useful information that development challenges affecting the Delta will help them make decisions about region. The DRA has established specific markets, investments, and hiring. recommendations regarding private sector engagement and performance measures Planning and Development districts that warrant specific detail. should consider partnering with local chambers of commerce PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENT and economic development The Delta region public forums should organizations in organizing strive to incorporate greater participation and publicizing the forum. and input from all sectors, especially Committing resources to marketing the business sector. This will help and publicizing events will increase awareness of public and private serve to broaden participation concerns and improve the environment from within the district.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 31 Inviting state community and the activities and results. The report economic development officials should be forwarded to the DRA to attend forums will increase as part of the required semiannual interest from both the media and annual activity reports. and the public. Participation at The report should include such measures as: forums will increase state official’s awareness of the conditions and Was the forum conducted? needs in the host community. Was there a presentation Rather than concentrating on business community exclusively on local parochial conditions/issues? interests, the public forum Was a pre-and post-forum survey moderator should steer the distributed? public discussion toward issues of regional importance, both 3. COMMUNICATION OF PLAN within individual states and within The DRA plan will be disseminated the Delta region as a whole. utilizing a variety of methods including: As access to technology permits, a. Direct mail to mayors, county planning and development districts judges, state and federal legislators, should look for ways to utilize community and economic information technology and the developers, planning and economic Web to gather and process input. development district directors, Allowing participants to fill out pre- post secondary institutions, and post-forum questionnaires on regional economic development the Web is a first step. Additional partnerships, administering Web-based public discourse agencies, and other stakeholders. tools include online deliberation, virtual forums, message boards, b. Posting of the plan on the blogs, and online polls. websites of partnering agencies, In order to measure the effectiveness districts and the DRA. of the public input forms, each planning c. Distribution at public input forums. and development district should prepare a post-forum report outlining d. Governor’s Office press release.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 32 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 4. APPLICATION under “State Grant Funding.” Failure to CONSIDERATIONS provide the Participation Agreement will result in an incomplete pre-application DRA UNIFORM PRE-APPLICATION PROCESS and disqualification. As a key part of its effort to improve the Please note: as DRA will periodically lives of Delta residents, the DRA operates a update its site with new information, grant program in the eight states it serves. clarification, etc., it is important to The DRA works closely with local frequently refer to www.dra.gov “state development districts, which provide grant funding” to learn of these updates. technical assistance to grant applicants. The following is an outline of the The DRA’s “Uniform Pre-application Simplified Process and Timeline provided Package” will include the: each funding year by DRA. • Cover Letter LOCAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS – • Simplified Process and Timeline PUBLICIZE, EDUCATE AND ASSIST
• DRA Uniform Grant The LDDs, or Planning & Economic Pre-Application Form Development District(s) in Arkansas, are • Application for Federal Assistance – the “front-line” facilitators, within their Standard Form 424 and, 424a Delta area, to publicize, educate and & 424b for non-construction provide technical assistance for the DRA projects, or 424c & 424d for Federal Grant Program’s pre-application construction projects process. Specifically, commencing as soon as the funding timeline is • “Attachment A.1 – Distressed Counties” -- Determined by the Delta released, each District will begin Regional Authority on June 26, 2008 publicizing the grant program through their hosting of public-information In addition, if the project assists a private forums plus all other means appropriate entity to locate and create jobs or an to their respective client bases. existing entity is involved in the retention of jobs, then a completed Participation Each District will be the principal contact Agreement is required. The Participation for the provision of technical and Agreement is posted as a document on pre-application assistance to the the DRA website www.dra.gov pre-applicants in its area throughout this
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 33 sixty-day period, from announcement All submitted pre-application packages to pre-application deadline. MUST include:
On a separate but important note, most “Uniform Pre-Application Form” DRA Federal Grant Program projects will Appropriate Federal Standard Form be administered by agencies other than 424 and, 424a & 424b for the DRA. These agencies are referred non-construction projects, or 424c to as “Administering Agencies”. If & 424d for construction projects either USDA Rural Development or the Congressional Delegation Input- Economic Development Administration letters of support is a participant in the project, then DRA will have a supplement grant and the LOCAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS applicable aforementioned Agency will FORWARD PRE-APPLICATIONS administer the DRA supplement grant. The Districts will package complete Otherwise, the District will administer Pre-applications and send the original the DRA portion of the project. plus one copy to DRA. Districts will also PRE-APPLICATIONS DUE AT LOCAL send a copy to the Technical Assistance DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT Coordinator, if there have been any changes since the original submission. All pre-application packages must be received by the District on the established Please note: Failure to submit complete pre-application packages and/or the deadline. The Districts will screen the requisite number of copies may render pre-applications for completeness. the submission ineligible. Pre-applications will only be accepted through your District, which must be listed PROJECT ELIGIBILITY SHALL BE on the LDD Transmittal Cover Letter. DETERMINED
A Technical Assistance Coordinator at the Project eligibility for the DRA Federal statewide level in Arkansas is also in place Grant Program will be determined by the to provide an extra level of review. The Federal Co-Chairman, based on: District shall forward a copy of all pre- The eligibility guidelines as applications to the Technical Assistance prescribed by the U.S. Congress in Coordinator as early as possible before the “Delta Regional Authority Act of forwarding to DRA. 2000”, as amended
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 34 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com Delta Regional Authority policy and the (if needed) Administering Agency promulgations that the project will work as described and be able to comply with all appropriate The “Clarification Notes” described federal regulations. As Governors make both on the “Uniform Pre- their selections, they will forward their Application Form” and which may lists to the Federal Co-Chairman, who will subsequently be described online and in this plan (please check for in turn invite these full applications for any updated “Clarifications”) these “pre-certified” projects.
Upon completion of his eligibility As stated above, in the main, projects determinations, the Federal Co-Chairman funded through the DRA Federal Grant will forward that list to each participating Program may be administered by other state member, and will notify the pre- agencies. Specifically, each Federal applicants and the Administering Agencies. Administering Agency’s involvement will be:
PARTICIPATING STATE MEMBERS SELECT 1. Federal Administering Agencies will APPROVED PROJECTS AND NOTIFY THE receive the Federal Co-Chairman’s FEDERAL CO-CHAIRMAN list of the eligible projects, which the Federal Administering Agency Each state’s Governor will select his may be requested to administer, projects for DRA Federal Grant funding when he forwards this list to the from the Federal Co-Chairman’s list of participating state members. eligible pre-applications. 2. The Federal Administering Agency With the singular independence as will certify that it will administer prescribed by the “Delta Regional such projects according to their Authority Act of 2000”, as amended, identified programs. each Governor will select his projects for funding, and will do so within the context Please note: When projects have been: of his own Authority-approved state plan 1. Deemed eligible by the Federal Co- and priorities. Chairman, When the Governors have selected 2. Pre-certified by the Governors and their projects, these selections basically become “pre-certified” for DRA funding, 3. Accepted by Administering needing now an application (“business Agencies, the applicants basically plan”) sufficient to satisfy the Authority become “pre-grantees”.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 35 Accordingly, the DRA staff will Applicants shall send their packages to: proceed to work collaboratively and DRA Federal Grant Program – Review Team collegially with these “pre-grantees” Delta Regional Authority to best insure their applications are 236 Sharkey Avenue – Suite 400 sound, all contingencies are satisfied, Clarksdale, MS 38614 before the State Certification and Board vote takes place -- all to best Beginning during approximately the insure each project will be successful. seventh month of the funding cycle, all applications shall be received to FEDERAL CO-CHAIRMAN ISSUES the DRA Central Office, and the DRA “INVITATIONS TO APPLY” TO staff will conduct a final review of the GOVERNORS’ SELECTIONS details, while working collaboratively and Using the DRA Federal Grant “Uniform collegially with each applicant. Grant Application Form”, which will DRA STAFF REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS include DRA’s required checklists and COMPLETED AND REVIEWS FORWARDED format, the Federal Co-Chairman will TO GOVERNORS invite a full application from each participating state’s lists of eligible and By the end of the eighth month, DRA staff pre-certified projects. will have forwarded all the completed APPLICATIONS MUST BE PREPARED AND application reviews to each Governor for RECEIVED BY DRA the state’s “evaluation and certification” as prescribed by the “Delta Regional Applicants will have 28 days to prepare Authority Act of 2000”, as amended. and submit to DRA application packages consisting of: GOVERNORS WILL EVALUATE AND CERTIFY PROJECTS 1. One set of originals for DRA review, Upon receiving each application for their 2. One set of copies, which DRA will state, each participating Governor shall send to the participating state evaluate and certify each application member and through his appropriate review process. 3. One set of copies, which DRA will Governors will then forward their lists of send to the (prospective) Federal evaluated and certified applications to Administering Agency the Federal Co-Chairman.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 36 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com THE DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY VOTES the applicant is capable of maintaining ON FUNDING YEAR’S PROJECTS the project after DRA funding to assure the sustainability of the project and The Delta Regional Authority then votes achievement of the level of service on funding that year’s projects. Each outlined in the project description. application will be voted on and approved by the participating state members and A project will NOT be deemed the Federal Co-Chairman, together, the sustainable if it is dependent on Delta Regional Authority. Once projects future grants to meet its normal are approved, the administration of operating expenses. Sustainability, each project will proceed in accordance by definition, includes all costs with the “Memorandum of Agreement” associated with management, between DRA and the appropriate operation and maintenance Administering Agencies. necessary to maintain an acceptable level of service. THE REGION’S MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND GOVERNORS ARE NOTIFIED 2. Eligible entities may NOT be conduits for private-sector entities. The Applicants Will Be Notified As To Their DRA federal grant program is ONLY Application Status available to participating member Applicants will be notified of their board states, public and non-profit entities. approval and that grant documents will 3. Basic Public and Transportation be prepared for applicant execution. Infrastructure: to be deemed eligible, Upon receipt of properly executed projects shall demonstrate documents plus any additional job-creation or job-retention impact. information requested with the 4. Workforce and Business documents, authorization to proceed with Development: to be deemed eligible, the project will be given to grantees. projects shall demonstrate job- DRA FEDERAL ELIGIBILITY CLARIFICATION creation or job-retention. NOTES (2009) 5. “Workforce Development” means: 1. Applicants must demonstrate job training or employment-related through a sound, comprehensive education for a specific employer to business plan based on hard data, fill immediate job openings or retain proven methodology and reasonable current jobs, which are documented forecasts acceptable to the DRA that as such by that specific employer.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 37 6. Delivery of such training shall be operating costs (including but through the use of existing public not limited to salaries, vehicles, educational facilities (EPEFs) located equipment and maintenance) will in the Region. However, if, the pre- NOT be deemed eligible. applicant demonstrates (1) sufficient 10. Government-facility construction documentation demonstrating and/or improvements (including an EPEF’s inability (as examples, but not limited to, local/state insufficient capacity, curriculum, government offices, libraries, fire and/or accessibility) to satisfy the stations, multi-purpose buildings and defined need, and the pre-applicant public education buildings/schools) (2) demonstrates a compelling need will NOT be eligible. to use a non-EPEF for such training, 11. “Indirect Cost Allocations” are then the Federal Co-Chairman can eligible but will be carefully assessed waive this requirement and deem a for reasonableness. project eligible. 12. “Isolated Areas of Distress” means: 7. Business Development – For Areas of distress identifiable by census eligibility purposes, this category track (distressed county criteria) within refers to those areas of business a non-distressed county. development which include entrepreneurship, the creation of 13. DRA federal grant funds will NOT new businesses or the retention or be used for projects deemed to be expansion of existing businesses in “Speculative”, “Maintenance” or the local communities. “Deferred Maintenance”. 8. Local, state and/or federal road, 14. Typically, “On-going Operating highway and/or bridge maintenance Costs,” will NOT be deemed projects will NOT be eligible for DRA eligible. However, for such costs to funding. However, projects involving be considered, the project MUST development of access roads be documented as a “Workforce for industrial parks or economic Development” project. development project sites (as 15. NO financial assistance will be examples) would be deemed eligible, authorized to assist any relocation if such are considered to be “basic from one area (of the region) to public infrastructure”. another, except as authorized, to 9. Other than for “Workforce Training” attract businesses from outside the projects as described above, normal DRA region to the DRA region.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 38 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 16. DRA federal grant funds successful development of start-up CANNOT be used to “supplant” and fledgling companies by providing existing funding streams. entrepreneurs with any array of targeted resources and services”. A 17. DRA funds can be used as the “first- business incubator’s main goal is to dollar in” to attract additional funds, produce successful firms that will if needed. However, if this project leave the program financially viable will require other funds to work, and freestanding. These incubator please document or describe the graduates have the potential to source(s) of those additional funds. create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, 18. DRA finds can be used to expand commercialize new technologies, existing business incubators and and strengthen local and national industrial parks; however start-up economies. (Incubators typically funding will be provided only for graduate companies within three committed economic development years) – National Business Incubator projects or to committed business Association – www.niba.org incubators tenants. 22. Geographic Information System 19. All programs and activities will be (GIS) and Broadband projects carried out in compliance with Title (not to include speculative or VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, feasibility-type studies – rather, and other federal laws prohibiting complete and sustainable projects) discrimination, and in such a manner will be considered technological that no person shall, on the grounds infrastructure, a subpart of “basic of race, color, national origin, public infrastructure,” and will be religion, sex, age or disability be deemed eligible for State, County/ excluded from participation in, be Parish, or Municipal government denied the benefits of, or be subject entities, if they do not directly to discrimination with respect to any subsidize for-profit entities. such programs or activities. 23. Feasibility/marketing type studies will 20. Delta Regional Authority reserves the be considered non-sustainable and right to withdraw grants for projects speculative, therefore, they will not not under contract within 18 months be considered eligible. of approval. Please refer to www.DRA.gov 21. “Business incubation is a business for a complete listing of current support process that accelerates the clarification notes.
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 39 State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 40 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com Appendices
Appendix A (1) 2006 Per Capita Personal Income Arkansas Delta Region
Fulton Clay Randolph Benton Carroll 21,737 21,823 Boone Marion Baxter 20,788 22,307 27,681 Sharp Greene Izard 20,403 23,444 22,551 Lawrence Washington Madison 21,327 Newton Searcy Craighead Mississippi Stone 19,597 26,726 26,040 22,312 Independence 27,679 Poinsett Crawford Franklin Johnson Van Buren Jackson Cleburne 22,030 22,869 23,649 Pope Cross White Sebastian Conway 20,477 Crittenden Logan 23,511 Faulkner Woodruff 25,813 20,360 St. Francis Yell Perry 21,499 Scott Prairie Lee Pulaski Lonoke 22,937 19,653 39,905 26,961 Monroe Saline 22,015 Garland Polk Montgomery Phillips 22,355
Hot Spring Grant Jefferson Arkansas Howard 27,824 25,434 29,478 Pike Sevier Clark Dallas Lincoln 25,927 Cleveland 19,817 27,326 Desha 22,223
Little River Hempstead Nevada Ouachita Drew Calhoun 25,390 23,980 23,257 Bradley State $28,473 Lafayette 23,637 Arkansas Delta Region Miller Chicot Ashley Columbia Union 21,668 $19,597 - $28,472 25,376 35,339 $28,473 - $39,905
Source: University of Arkansas at Little Rock, GIS Applications Laboratory, Institute for Economic Advancement, http://argis.ualr.edu. (501) 569-8530
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 41 Appendix A (2) 2007 Percent Population Below Poverty Arkansas Delta Region
Fulton Clay Randolph Benton Carroll 20.3 18.4 Boone Marion Baxter 17.4 17.1 12.4 Sharp Greene Izard 23.1 16.2 21.3 Lawrence Madison Washington 22.5 Newton Searcy Craighead Mississippi 23.9 Stone 28.2 Independence 16.3 21.1 15.1 Poinsett Crawford Van Buren Jackson Johnson 17.1 Cleburne 25.3 Franklin Pope 23.8
Cross White Logan Conway 20.7 Crittenden 15.5 Sebastian Faulkner Woodruff 25.7 26.5 St. Francis Yell 32.6 Perry Scott Prairie Lee Pulaski Lonoke 16.4 31.8 15.5 11.2 Saline Monroe Garland 27.2 Polk Montgomery Phillips 37.2 Arkansas Howard Hot Spring Grant Jefferson Pike 10.6 25.0 17.9
Sevier Clark Dallas Lincoln 21.2 Cleveland 26.8 16.4 Desha 26.6 Little River Hempstead Nevada Ouachita Drew Calhoun 22.9 22.6 17.7 Bradley State 17.6% Lafayette 24.4 Miller Arkansas Delta Region Columbia Chicot Ashley Union 32.4 10.6 - 17.5 20.7 19.0 17.6 - 37.2
Source: University of Arkansas at Little Rock, GIS Applications Laboratory, Institute for Economic Advancement, http://argis.ualr.edu. (501) 569-8530
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 42 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com Appendix A (3) 2007 Unemployment Rate Arkansas Delta Region
Fulton Clay Randolph Benton Carroll 5.1 9.5 Boone Marion Baxter 9.5 5.6 5.5 Sharp Greene Izard 6.8 6.5 6.1 Lawrence Madison 7.0 Washington Newton Searcy Craighead Mississippi Stone 5.0 5.0 7.5 5.8 Independence 6.3 Poinsett Crawford Franklin Van Buren Jackson Johnson 6.1 Cleburne 7.1 Pope 7.7
Cross White Conway 7.6 Logan 6.6 Crittenden Sebastian Faulkner Woodruff 6.6 8.9 St. Francis Yell Perry 9.8 Scott Prairie Lee Pulaski Lonoke 5.9 9.6 4.8 4.4 Saline Monroe 6.9 Garland Polk Montgomery Phillips 7.6
Hot Spring Grant Jefferson Arkansas Howard Pike 5 7.6 8.9
Sevier Clark Dallas Lincoln 7.2 Cleveland 8.0 5.9 Desha 10.2 Little River Hempstead Nevada Ouachita Drew Calhoun 7.4 7.5 6.9 Bradley State 5.4% Lafayette 6.2 Arkansas Delta Region Miller Chicot Ashley Columbia Union 8.6 4.4 - 5.3 8.4 7.0 5.4 - 10.2
Source: University of Arkansas at Little Rock, GIS Applications Laboratory, Institute for Economic Advancement, http://argis.ualr.edu. (501) 569-8530
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com 43 Appendix B Arkansas Regional Partnerships
Barry, McDonald, MS MS
Fulton Clay Benton Carroll Baxter Randolph Boone Marion Sharp Greene Izard Lawrence Washington Madison Newton Searcy Stone Craighead Mississippi Independence
Van Franklin Buren Jackson Poinsett Sequoyah, Crawford Johnson Cleburne OK Pope Conway Cross Logan White Crittenden Shelby, Sebastian TN Faulkner Woodruff St. Francis Yell Perry DeSoto, Le Flore, Scott Prairie MS OK Pulaski Lee Lonoke Saline Monroe Garland Montgomery Polk Phillips
Hot Spring Arkansas Howard Grant Jefferson Pike Sevier Clark Dallas Cleveland Lincoln Desha Little Hempstead River Nevada Ouachita Calhoun Drew Bowie, TX Bradley Columbia Miller Chicot Union Ashley Economic Development Commission Cass, Lafayette August, 2008 TX
Missouri/Arkansas Partnership
Caddo, Northwest Arkansas Council LA North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development Buffalo Island Partnership Counties also belong to the Mayoral Alliance Greater Fort Smith Regional Initiative Benton County is in the Missouri/Arkansas Partnership Arkansas River Valley Economic Development Compact Metro Little Rock Alliance Franklin County is also in the Greater Fort Smith Crossroads Coalition Regional Initiative Memphis Regional Economic Development Council Columbia County also belongs to the Texarkana Regional Initiative Texarkana Regional Initiative Golden Triangle Economic Development Council Mississippi County is in the Buffalo Island Partnership and the Crossroads Coalition Mayoral Alliance Crittenden County is in the Crossroads Coalition and Southeast Arkansas Cornerstone Coalition, Inc. Memphis Regional Economic Development Council No Partnership
Source: University of Arkansas at Little Rock, GIS Applications Laboratory, Institute for Economic Advancement, http://argis.ualr.edu. (501) 569-8530
State of Arkansas Delta Development Plan 44 www.governor.arkansas.gov www.dra.gov www.ArkansasEDC.com Grant Eligibility & Priority Checklist This list is provided as a guide to assist you in developing your project, and preparing your pre-application. For all of the following components, check all that apply. Complying with the checklist may not guarantee that your project is or is not fundable. List is not exhaustive. DRA Eligible Projects: Basic Public Infrastructure or Transportation Infrastructure • Job Creation or Retention Business Development • Job Creation or Retention • Creation of new business, or retention or expansion of existing business • Entrepreneurship Emphasis Workforce Development and Job Training • Job Creation or Retention • Does the training utilize existing public educational institutions in the region? Governor Beebe’s DRA Funding Priorities Economic & Business Development Regional Impact—does your project benefit a larger region than your own city or county; did it grow from a regional partnership, and/or was it included in a regional strategic plan? Collaborative Funding –does your project involve multiple funding sources? Critical needs—does the problem involve aging and/or failing infrastructure, and/or is the problem an eminent public health or safety threat, or involve an urgent circumstance? Water/wastewater projects must be tied to an economic development project.
Other Considerations: Sustainability—applicants must demonstrate capability of maintaining project Congressional Delegation Input—letters of support are included Readiness to Proceed—projects should be under contract within 18 months of approval
Ineligible Activities (include but are not limited to; see clarification notes for details and exceptions): Local, state and/or federal road, highway and/or bridge maintenance projects Normal or on-going operating costs Government facility construction and/or improvements “Speculative,” “Maintenance,” or “Deferred Maintenance” projects Feasibility/marketing type studies
For technical assistance, contact your local Planning or Economic Development District, or: Delta Regional Authority Jean Noble Governor Mike Beebe Howard Hemphill, Arkansas Economic Development Commission Christopher A. Masingill, Director of Federal Grant Program (501) 682-1121 Designee & Alternate 1-888-GO TO DRA [email protected] (501) 682-2345
Delta Regional Authority Jean Noble Governor Mike Beebe Howard Hemphill, Arkansas Economic Development Commission Christopher A. Masingill, Director of Federal Grant Program (501) 682-1121 Designee & Alternate 1-888-GO TO DRA [email protected] (501) 682-2345