Rep. Sewell: $1.6 million in investments from the Delta Regional Authority for Black Belt

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, AL-07, announced on Tuesday $1.6 million from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) for six projects in Alabama’s Black Belt. These new investment projects will improve basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, and support business development and job training. Funding was awarded through the State’s Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP) and was made available, in part, by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

“As a proud daughter of the Black Belt, I have made it a top priority to ensure that those living and working in the region get their fair share of federal resources and funding,” said Rep. Sewell. “These awards from the Delta Regional Authority will continue to reverse decades of disinvestment by bringing jobs and infrastructure upgrades directly to communities that need them most. As the only Member of Congress from Alabama to vote for President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I’m very excited to see this funding coming to our communities and I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued focus on equity.”

The following projects in Alabama’s Black Belt received SEDAP funding:

• The Cultural and Communal Living Cynosure project in Selma, Alabama, has been awarded $200,000 to increase the success and well-being of residents in distressed communities.
• The Jackson Pellets Industrial Access Road project in Jackson, Alabama, has been awarded more than $357,000 to construct a 3,100-foot industrial access road to the Jackson Pellets facility.
• The Selma Tourism Incubator project in Selma, Alabama, has been awarded $509,000 to develop an Innovative Tourism Hub in Selma’s historic downtown.
• The Town of Hurtsboro Storm Water Collection System Improvement project in Hurtsboro, Alabama, has been awarded more than $387,000 to repair a storm water collection system to reduce localized flooding.
• The Town of Butler Highway 17 South project in Butler, Alabama, has been awarded more than $189,000 to correct water main issues and install a fire hydrant on Alabama Highway 17 South.
• The Eufaula-Bluff City Water and Sewer project in Eufaula, Alabama has been awarded more than $43,000 for sewer, water, and stormwater improvements.

The DRA was established in 2000 as a formal framework for joint federal-state collaboration to promote and encourage the economic development of the lower Mississippi River and Alabama Black Belt regions. To fulfill this purpose, DRA invests in projects supporting transportation infrastructure, basic public infrastructure, workforce training, and business development. DRA’s region encompasses 252 counties and parishes in parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. 

“The States’ Economic Development Assistance Program is one of DRA’s most diverse tools that allows us to expand and invest in the resiliency of the region’s public infrastructure and workforce,” said DRA Federal Co-Chairman, Dr. Corey Wiggins. “As a result of this investment, nearly 6,000 families will have improved access to infrastructure, helping to improve their quality of life and increase economic opportunities in their communities.”

Additional information about SEDAP is available here.