Alabama Governor Ivey Named States’ Co-Chair for Delta Regional Authority

MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA REGION  –Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has been named the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) States’ Co-Chair to lead coordination of the DRA’s work on behalf of 10 million Delta residents.
Gov. Ivey grew up in the small town of Camden in Wilcox County and working on her father’s farm taught her the value of hard work, and the importance of living within one’s means. Her parents instilled values of faith, family, and community.
“Growing up in the Delta region was an important part of how I learned to dedicate myself to working hard and gaining the leadership skills necessary to helping Alabama and our region grow and prosper,” Gov. Ivey said. “It is a distinct honor and privilege to now be a part of helping our entire region become more competitive nationally and globally.”
After graduating from Auburn University in 1967, Ivey worked as a high school teacher and a bank officer. She served as Reading Clerk of the Alabama House of Representatives under Speaker Joseph C. McCorquodale and Assistant Director of the Alabama Development Office, where she worked to spur job creation and economic development across the State.
In 2002, Ivey became the first Republican elected State Treasurer since Reconstruction and was re-elected in 2006. As Treasurer, Kay was committed to making the office more open, transparent, and efficient.
Ivey was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2010, becoming the first Republican woman to hold the office in Alabama’s history. She again made history on November 4, 2014, by becoming the first Republican Lieutenant Governor re-elected to the office. The Lieutenant Governor’s primary Constitutional duty is to preside over legislative proceedings of the upper house as President of the Senate.
“There is no greater cheerleader for Alabama’s Black Belt than Governor Kay Ivey, and I am grateful for her selection as 2017 Delta Regional Authority States’ Co-Chair,” Jim Byard, Jr., director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and Alabama’s designee to the DRA Board of Directors said. “Her leadership in creating jobs, strengthening education and supporting transportation infrastructure projects is strong and will be important as the DRA develops priorities for the year. ADECA oversees the DRA program in Alabama, and I look forward to working with Governor Ivey to support initiatives in the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama’s Black Belt.”
Established in 2000 by Congress, the Delta Regional Authority serves as a federal-state partnership that works with local development districts, utilizes market-proven processes to grow economic outcomes and enhances the quality of life of the residents in the Delta region.
“DRA is grateful to have an Alabama Black Belt native who grew up in the Delta as our new states’ Co-Chair,” DRA Chairman Chris Masingill said. “Her willingness to serve and provide leadership to our board and our agency will support our mission of creating jobs, improving lives and building communities in the Delta region.”
DRA serves eight states and 252 counties and parishes including 20 counties in Alabama. The Alabama counties in the DRA include: Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Russell, Sumter, Washington, and Wilcox.
About the Delta Regional Authority
The Delta Regional Authority is a federal-state partnership created by Congress in 2000 to help create jobs, build communities, and improve lives through strategic investments in economic development in 252 counties and parishes across eight states. To date, DRA has invested $163 million into more than 1,000 projects that have attracted total public and private investments of $3.5 billion. Overall, DRA investments have helped create and retain more than 37,000 jobs, train more than 7,300 workers for 21st century jobs, and deliver water and sewer improvements to more than 66,000 residents. Learn more at dra.gov.
Click here for a short video of Gov. Ivey discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the Black Belt of Alabama and the importance of DRA’s role in helping improve opportunities in the region.
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