Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is awarding over $31 million in investments to 34 projects across Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri through the Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF). Funding for this program was made available, in part, by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden, a key part of his Investing in America agenda to grow local economies from the middle out and bottom up and create more resilient and healthier communities across the country. The 34 new investment projects will improve basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, and flood control in communities across DRA’s region. These projects are projected to create or retain 1,400 jobs and affect nearly 12,300 families.
“The Community Infrastructure Fund is one of DRA’s most unique tools that allows us to expand and invest in the resiliency of the region’s public infrastructure,” said DRA Federal Co-Chairman Dr. Corey Wiggins. “As a result of this investment, over 12,000 families will have improved access to infrastructure, helping to improve their quality of life and increase economic opportunities in their communities.”
The purpose of the CIF program is to address unmet basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, and flood control needs to help build safer, more resilient communities in the Delta region. The following projects received CIF funding:
Alabama
The 2023 Carrollton Sewer Upgrades project in Carrollton, Alabama, has been awarded more than $488,000 for improvements to reduce stormwater inflow to the municipal sewer system. The Town of Lowndesboro Water System Improvements project in Lowndesboro, Alabama, has been awarded $509,000 to replace water mains, valves, and meters and expand service to new customers outside the town limits. The Town of Hayneville Sewer Lagoon and Lift Station Improvements project in Hayneville, Alabama, has been awarded more than $761,000 to improve the town’s lagoon treatment system and three lift stations. The Eufaula-Bluff City Water and Sewer project in Eufaula, Alabama, has been awarded more than $606,000 for sewer, storm, and water improvements. The Town of Excel Water Main Replacement project in Excel, Alabama, has been awarded $307,000 to replace aging water mains. The City of Selma project in Selma, Alabama, has been awarded more than $2 million to resurface streets downtown and in Disaster Recovery Area I that were affected by a tornado. The City of York Resurfacing project in York, Alabama, has been awarded more than $413,000 to resurface Derby Drive, Brent Drive, and Altman Street. The Utilities Board of Tuskegee Electrical Substation Six Construction Benefitting Samkee Corp. project in Tuskegee, Alabama, has been awarded more than $1.1 million to construct Electrical Substation Six in Tuskegee Commerce Park.
Arkansas
The East Camden Drainage Improvement project in East Camden, Arkansas, has been awarded more than $375,000 for drainage improvements to help eliminate flooding. The Memorial Drive Improvements project in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, has been awarded more than $142,000 to make needed road infrastructure accommodations to support an egg grading and packaging facility. The River Ridge Parking Area project in Rison, Arkansas, has been awarded more than $280,000 for infrastructure improvements to a parking area and construction of an additional driveway to accommodate the River Ridge Equipment Company. The Stephens Wastewater Improvement project in Stephens, Arkansas, has been awarded more than $382,000 to replace 1,200 linear feet of sewer main and five failing manholes in the city. The Stuttgart Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements project in Stuttgart, Arkansas, has been awarded $2 million for improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The Calhoun County Water Expansion project in Hampton, Arkansas, has been awarded more than $1.7 million to install 159,000 linear feet of water line and meters, extending water services to residents that do not have water. The Altheimer Water Tank and Waterline project in Altheimer, Arkansas, has been awarded more than $843,000 to purchase and install a new elevated water tank and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system.
Illinois
The Baldwin Sewer Force Main project in Baldwin, Illinois, has been awarded more than $203,000 to replace 2,650 linear feet of a 6-inch force main with an 8-inch force main and install larger impellers on lift station pumps. The Hickory Street Utility Relocation project in DuQuoin, Illinois, has been awarded more than $2.5 million to relocate 2,300 linear feet of 6-inch water main, 2,200 linear feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer, and 1,200 linear feet 14-inch of water main beneath a state highway.
Kentucky
The Clinton Sewer Lift Station Relocation project in Clinton, Kentucky, has been awarded more than $1.8 million to relocate and upgrade the city’s sewer lift station.
Louisiana
The Chalmette Terminal Main Lift Station Rehabilitation project in Chalmette, Louisiana, has been awarded $206,000 for the rehabilitation of the main lift station with a new sewerage treatment plant. The Urania Sewer System Improvements project in Urania, Louisiana, has been awarded $509,000 to renovate the city’s wastewater treatment plant due to a premature infrastructure failure. The Columbia Port Rail Spur Construction project in Columbia, Louisiana, has been awarded more than $1 million to construct a rail spur that will provide a rail service at the Port of Columbia. The Central Louisiana Regional Port – Critical Industry-Infrastructure Expansion project in Alexandria, Louisiana, has been awarded more than $1.2 million to expand infrastructure and hardstand-supporting industry expansions, including a packaged electrical substation. The Hodge South First Street Improvements project in Hodge, Louisiana, has been awarded more than $752,000 to extend and overlay First Street. The Fontana Road Improvements project in Monroe, Louisiana, has been awarded more than $2.4 million to widen and upgrade 0.98 miles of two-lane roadway. The Design/Construct MRO Expansion Hangar project in New Iberia, Louisiana, has been awarded more than $2 million for the design and construction of a 200,000-square-foot hangar and infrastructure that will be used for aircraft rehabilitation and converting passenger aircraft to cargo aircraft.
Mississippi
The Port Gibson Water Well Rehab and Altitude Valve Replacement project in Port Gibson, Mississippi, has been awarded more than $46,000 to rehabilitate the city’s water well and replace an altitude valve on a water pump. The 2023 DRA Water System Improvements project in Shaw, Mississippi, has been awarded more than $482,000 for improvements to the city’s two well and tank systems. The Fayette Sewer System Improvement project in Fayette, Mississippi, has been awarded more than $249,000 for improvements to one of its sewer lagoons. The Leflore County-County Road 523 Improvements project in Greenwood, Mississippi, has been awarded $500,000 to rehabilitate two miles of Leflore County Road 523. The Falcon Reconnect Water Well project in Sledge, Mississippi, has been awarded $509,000 to reconnect the Town of Falcon’s water well to the water system. The Durant Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements project in Durant, Mississippi, has been awarded more than $609,000 to improve the city’s wastewater treatment facility. The Quitman County Darling Sewer project in Marks, Mississippi, has been awarded more than $761,000 to establish a sewer service to the Darling community. The Town of Edwards Water Treatment project in Edwards, Mississippi, has been awarded more than $2.5 million for a pressure water system.
Missouri
The Reynolds County Public Water Supply District 1 System Restoration project in Centerville, Missouri, has been awarded more than $876,000 to address deteriorating waterlines and lack of critical system components in Reynolds County Public Water Supply District 1.
Additional information about CIF is available at Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) - Delta Regional Authority (dra.gov).