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Nov. 19, 2007
For more information, contact:
Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993
MRPC To Host Public Informational Forum Nov. 29 On Delta Regional Authority Grants
Grant deadline is Jan. 8
ST. JAMES—The Delta Regional Authority has announced the availability of grant funds for qualifying projects in the Delta Region, and the Meramec Regional Planning Commission will host a public information forum 2 p.m. Nov. 29 to review the grant process and detail deadlines and qualifying criteria, announced Richard Cavender, executive director of MRPC.
The meeting will be held at MRPC's office at 4 Industrial Drive in St. James.
The Delta Regional Authority, created in 1999, is a federal-state partnership serving 240-counties in eight states. Four Meramec counties—Crawford, Dent, Phelps and Washington counties—are in the area designated as the Delta Region.
Led by Federal Co-Chairman Pete Johnson and the governors of each participating state, the DRA is designed to remedy severe and chronic economic distress by stimulating economic development and fostering partnerships that will have a positive impact on the region’s economy. The DRA will help economically distressed communities to leverage other federal and state programs that are focused on basic infrastructure development and transportation improvements, business development, and job training services.
Grant requests to DRA must address one of these initiatives.
DRA is an independent federal agency with a mission to provide assistance to economically distressed counties in the Mississippi Delta Region, as designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
MRPC is the Local Development District for the DRA and is responsible for providing information and technical assistance on the grant process. MRPC is responsible for making local governments and nonprofits aware of the grant opportunity and to assist them with the preparation of applications. Pre-applications for this round of funding must be submitted to MRPC by Jan. 8, 2008.
Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. Officers are Chairman Bob Reed of Washington County, Vice Chairman Laura Antolak of Rolla, Secretary Russell Scheulen of Osage County and Treasurer Gary Brown of Salem.
A professional staff of 25, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities upon request.
Persons needing more information on the Nov. 29 meeting should contact MRPC at (573) 265-2993 or at info at missourimeramecregion.org.
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