SIKESTON - Although there is less money to spread around than in the first couple of years, the Delta Regional Authority is starting its 2004 Federal Grant Program.
"It is with a great sense of excitement that we at the Delta Regional Authority are pleased to present the DRA 2004 Federal Grant Program," Federal Co-Chairman Pete Johnson said in a press release. "As we look back over the first two years of the Authority, we are very proud of the program and we have learned so much.
"We have been in regular contact with members of Congress, the DRA states, local development districts and the actual grantees getting feedback on how we could make the 2004 program a more accessible and efficient process. We can now ensure a higher level of continuity that will not only help facilitate the quicker awarding and administration of grants but also bring the Authority's program more in line with similar agencies in the federal government."
The Delta Regional Authority is a federal-state partnership created by Congress through the Delta Regional Authority Act of 2000. It serves 240 counties and parishes in an eight-state region. Participating states in addition to Missouri are Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
The DRA's governing authority is a nine-member board comprised of a federal co-chairman and the governor of each participating state. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee presently serves as the Board's state co-chairman.
"We'll have the same goals we had in 2003, but several things have changed," said Huckabee. "We continue to improve the grant program. All the changes address specific needs that came to light during the first two years. We listened to those who suggested ways to improve the process and implemented their suggestions."
"Uniform Pre-Application Packages" for the DRA 2004 Federal Grant Program are being made available to members of Congress, the region's 44 local development districts and the general public.
"Pre-applications come first," said Howard Hemphill, director of federal programs for the DRA. "Pre-applications are due at the local development district offices by April 7. They're checked for completion and forwarded no later than April 21 to the Delta Regional Authority. Then by May 10, Pete Johnson, the federal co-chairman, determines whether they're eligible or not."
On May 12, the list of eligible and ineligible projects will be forwarded to the governor of the respective states, according to Hemphill. By June 9, the governors are to select their projects and notify the federal co-chairman.
"It's an allocation based on the number of distressed counties in each state, based on a percentage," Hemphill said. "Some states have fewer and some have more."
June 11, the federal co-chair issues invitations to apply to selected pre-applicants for a full application, he explained. Invitees then need to have their full application in to the DRA by July 26.
"We review the applications and then send a copy of the reviewed applications to the governors," Hemphill said. "The governors evaluate and certify those projects by Sept. 3, and then they are approved by the Board Sept. 7. Applicants will be notified upon certification by the governor and approval by the Board."
"This simplified process and timeline is on the Website under the DRA 2004 federal grant program tab," Hemphill added. "Everything relevant to this year will be under there."
While the process is simpler, the competition will be even tougher. "They've been cutting the budget every year," Hemphill said.
For the combined 2001-2002 round of grants, a total of $26 million, or $13 million for each of the two years, was budgeted. It was cut by about half for 2003 with only $6.5 million.
The budget for 2004 only provides for $3.5 million in grants.
Of the 10 DRA projects approved in Missouri for 2003, several were in Southeast Missouri.
The New Madrid County Port Authority received $127,870 to pave South Harbor Road.
The Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority also received a grant of $50,000 to help fund the filling of low-lying land to raise it above flood elevation, providing additional areas to be developed into industrial sites.
The City of Lilbourn was awarded $11,000 in DRA funding toward the construction of a rail spur to an industrial site for a new company, Great River Sun/Soy, that will be opening there and using rail to ship most of its products.
Scott County was awarded $127,500 toward a project which is repaving about one mile of old pavement and laying new pavement on just over four miles of gravel on County Road 266, connecting Highway P at Perkins with Highway 77.
In addition to improving access from western Scott County to agricultural and retail destinations, trading and port facilities, the project will also improve public safety by creating an all-weather road surface for school and emergency vehicles.
Southeast Missouri counties also benefited from an award to Southeast Missouri State University of $26,805.07 for an Equity Extending Financing Program to supplement access to critical development capital focusing on manufacturing technology, life science, value added companies and business/tenants of the University Innovation Center.
A grant of $46,350 to Cape Girardeau County to extend Route AB to connect with State Highway 25 will also benefit Scott and Stoddard County, according to DRA officials, by providing a shorter, more direct route to businesses and employment opportunities.