Local cities, agencies receiving portion of $25 million investment

(WSIL) -- The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has announced an investment of more than $25 million toward 25 projects through its .

These projects span seven states within DRA’s eight-service region, including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri and Mississippi.��

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 to create more resilient and healthier communities across the county.

Designed to address unmet needs in basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure and flood control needs, these CIF-award projects will help strengthen the economic vitality of the DRA region by building safer, more resilient communities. Together, these 25 projects are estimated to create or retain more than 1,100 jobs and impact more than 75,000 families across 25 communities.

“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 Dr. Corey Wiggins, DRA Federal Co-Chairman. “As a result of this investment, approximately 75,266 families will have improved access to infrastructure, helping to improve their quality of life and increase economic opportunities in their communities.��

This round of CIF funding is DRA’s final funding award for the 2024 fiscal year. During 2024, DRA invested nearly $32 million in 32 projects through the CIF program.��

In our region this includes:

Illinois

Village of Gorham was awarded more than $484,000 for a water system improvement project that will ensure the supply of drinking water in the event of a facility malfunction.
Rend Lake Conservancy District was awarded nearly $922,000 for a public infrastructure project that will provide for the relocation and storage of the district’s chlorine dioxide system, as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency, resulting in a secure, efficient water treatment process for the entire service population.
Egyptian Electric Cooperative was awarded more than $1.8 million to support the infrastructure of a new substation construction project that will provide the additional electrical capacity needed for a building expansion, resulting in the creation of approximately 24 new, high paying jobs.
City of Murphysboro was awarded nearly $496,000 for a public infrastructure project that will replace the main sanitary sewer trunkline to provide reliable service to the entire city and its tributary.

Kentucky

Lyon County Fiscal Court was awarded more than $2.4 million for a public infrastructure project that will combine three separate water projects among water districts serving Lyon County to increase the reliability and resilience of the water supply, which is essential to supporting local industries, enhancing quality of life and promoting economic development within the region.
City of Providence was awarded more than $2 million to make upgrades to an aging public infrastructure to address existing violations and to provide for safe and adequate water/sewer utility services to residents and businesses within the city.

Missouri

City of Dexter was awarded nearly $422,000 to make public infrastructure improvements that will enhance drainage resilience, address sewer system challenges and facilitate future development within the city.
City of Potosi was awarded more than $1 million for a natural gas distribution upgrade project that will replace existing infrastructure in the system to increase its reliability, to avoid interruption in service for residents and businesses, and increase capacity for future economic growth.

For a full list of recipients .��