NADO.org » Federal-State Regional Commissions

NADO Analysis of the President’s FY13 Budget

Matthew Chase — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:01:39 +0000

NADO released its annual in-depth analysis of the President’s FY2013 federal budget blueprint. A copy of the written summary, with accompanying budget chart, was emailed to the full membership. In addition, the association hosted a members-only webinar today to discuss the overall federal political climate, the administration’s key regional community and economic development proposals, and the status of the SAFETEA-LU federal surface transportation reauthorization process.

View the NADO power point presentation.

New Report on Delta Regional Authority Impact

Deborah Cox — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:19:16 +0000

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) recently released a new report, Impacts of Regional Approaches to Rural Development: Initial Evidence on the Delta Regional Authority. The report compares non-metro counties covered by the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), which began funding rural development projects in 2002, with similar counties in the same region and in the Southeast. The report found that per capita income, net earnings, and transfer payments grew more rapidly in DRA counties than in similar non-DRA counties, and those impacts were stronger in counties in which DRA spending was higher. The report also found that each additional dollar of DRA spending was associated with an increase of $15 in the growth of annual personal income from 2002 to 2007. The full report is available here.

House Passes FY12 Energy-Water Appropriations Bill

Jennifer Walsh — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:36:55 +0000

On July 15, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amended $30.6 billion Energy-Water spending bill (H.R. 2354) that contains fiscal year 2012 funding for the U.S. Energy Department, the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation and several regional water and power authorities. It would provide about $2 billion less than current levels and $5.9 billion less than President Obama’s request. This bill provides funding for all of the federal-state regional commissions.

During the debate, Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) offered an amendment to eliminate funding for the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission which failed. Congressman Mike McIntyre (D-NC) gave an outstanding floor speech defending the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission and applauding the great work of the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Delta Regional Commission. Below is a summary of the funding levels for the commissions. This is the fifth appropriations bill that the House has passed. The Senate has not yet begun work on a FY2012 Energy-Water appropriations measure.

Appalachian Regional Commission: The bill would provide $68.4 million, down from $76 million in FY2010, $137,000 above FY11 and $7.6M below President Obama’s FY12 budget request
Delta Regional Authority: The bill would provide $11.7 million, down from $13 million in FY2010
Denali Commission: $10.7 million, down from $11.97 million in FY2010
Northern Border Regional Commission: $1.35 million, down from $1.5 million in FY2010
Southeast Crescent Regional Commission: $250,000, level with FY2011 funding

Delta Regional Authority Announces Economic Development Assistance Program

Jennifer Walsh — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:48:59 +0000

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is now accepting applications for the States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP) for development projects from the 252 Delta Counties and Parishes served by the DRA. The purpose of the program is to help Delta communities create jobs and improve infrastructure in their communities. Interested applicants should contact their Local Development District to begin the application process. Projects are due to Local Development Districts by August 4, 2011. For program and eligibility guidelines, review the States’ Economic Development Assistance Program FY2011 Manual available at www.dra.gov.