The Delta Regional Authority Invites You to a Regional Development Plan III Listening Session

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) invites you to attend a public forum designed to help the DRA gather stakeholder input and ensure local voices are heard as the DRA updates its regional strategic plan for the next five years. The DRA has engaged Ted Abernathy, Managing Partner at Economic Leadership LLP, as well as TIP Strategies, to assist with the preparation of an updated Delta Regional Development Plan III (RDP III) for the Delta region, which includes 252 counties and parishes within portions of eight states.

The RDP III will guide the region’s economic growth over the next five years. It will build upon the previous strategic plan (RDP II) which has informed the DRA’s priorities since 2008. The RDP II resulted in the creation of the DRA’s guiding principles which will remain in place as the foundational framework for RDP III:

Goal 1 – Advance the productivity and economic competitiveness of the Delta workforce
Goal 2 – Strengthen the Delta’s physical and digital connections to the global economy
Goal 3 – Facilitate capacity building within Delta communities

As part of the planning process, the DRA is seeking the input of key stakeholders that play important roles in the economic health of the region. As a community leader or stakeholder in the Delta region, your perspectives on effective approaches for economic development are important to the DRA.

EVENT FORMAT
The listening session events throughout the region are structured conversations to give participants the opportunity to provide input to the DRA. No prior preparation on behalf of participants is necessary. The information gathered is used for background and idea generation purposes only. Your openness and candor are crucial.

Ten events are offered in different parts of the region in order to extend an opportunity to participate to all of the region’s stakeholders. The format of each event will be the same. The event will begin with an overview of the DRA and its priorities as well as the goals and objectives of the RDP III. The team leading the session will then ask some specific questions about the economic development challenges and opportunities facing the region as a whole. From your responses, more focused ideas and questions will be identified and discussed. The sessions will be two hours long. The event is free, and refreshments will be provided.

RSVP
To RSVP please go to www.dra.gov/rdp3. Please be sure to register in advance for these sessions.
With questions, please contact Mirielle Burgoyne at mburgoyne@dra.gov or 202-434-4847.

To register, click the links below: