Delta Grassroots Caucus Events

Credit Michael Hibblen/ KUAR News, Arkansas Public Radio; Former President Bill Clinton speaking to the Delta Grassroots Caucus on May 2, 2013, at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, Little Rock

U. S. Senator John Boozman, Arkansas, at a Delta Grassroots Caucus meeting at the US Capitol

Brad Cole, Executive Director of the Municipal League of Illinois; previously a senior aide to former Republican US Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois, earlier Mayor of Carbondale, Illinois, veteran Delta regional advocate, speaking at the Delta regional conference in West Memphis, Arkansas on April 26, 2019.

President Bill Clinton makes a comment to Delta Caucus Director Lee Powell at a meeting in Blytheville, Arkansas (in the northeast Arkansas Delta) on Nov. 2, 2014

The Delta Caucus would like to pay tribute to the late, great U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, a powerful force in the US Senate for decades and a champion for the Delta. Sen. Cochran passed away on May 30, 2019. He spoke to the Delta Caucus on many occasions over the years (he is pictured above speaking to a Caucus event on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC) and his thoughtful, courteous and bipartisan leadership will be sorely missed.

Marcie Lawson, Executive Director, Sikeston, Missouri Regional Chamber and Area Economic Development Corporation, speaking at the Delta regional conference in West Memphis, Arkansas on April 26, 2019.

Alan Gumbel, Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce, Memphis, Tennessee, speaking at the Delta regional conference in West Memphis, Arkansas on April 26, 2019.

Mayor Shirley Washington of Pine Bluff, AR, speaking to the Delta Caucus at the Arkansas Capitol Rotunda in 2017.

Please Take Part in DRA-Led White House Rural Roundtables, Aug. 18-24 in the Delta

Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:41 AM

The Delta Regional Authority is leading White House Rural Council Roundtables in the Delta, August 18-24, 2011, with details about the meetings in Selma, Alabama, Bastrop, Louisiana, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas below in this message. DRA Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill and Alternate Federal Co-Chairman Mike Marshall continue to demonstrate excellent leadership for small businesses and entrepreneurs in job creation for the Delta.

The Delta Grassroots Caucus encourages all our partners to take part in these events. You can RSVP by going to the DRA website at dra.gov, and you can also contact Bev Hunter at bhunter@dra.gov or John Collins at 917-496-4587 for more information.

President Obama signed an order creating the White House Rural Council in June, with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack as chair and the DRA playing an important role in its activities.

Below we are relaying a message from the DRA, and we applaud their constructive efforts for the Delta in this time of high unemployment and economic distress.

“DRA Launches New Resource Network for Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs across the Region; Releases New Study on Delta Mom and Pop Businesses Access to Start-Up Loans”

LITTLE ROCK – Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill announced today he will help lead White House Rural Council roundtables across the Delta. The Council will meet and advise key stakeholders on potential opportunities to better coordinate and streamline federal program efforts and better leverage federal investments in rural America.

In June, President Obama signed an Executive Order establishing the first White House Rural Council, chaired by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and a series of working groups have been held in recent weeks to advance the Council’s objectives.

DRA Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill said, “Rural small businesses are the backbone of the Delta economy. While we have seen many economic bright spots, some communities are continuing to struggle. Now is the time we need to double down – and make sure rural communities have the resources they need to grow their business and create good-paying jobs.”

WHO: Chris Masingill, Federal Co-Chairman of the Delta Regional Authority • Federal and State Stakeholders • Small Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, Investment Firms and Economic Development Experts

The events are free of charge, though pre-event registration is required and space is limited. Please RSVP using the form available at the DRA website at www.dra.gov. Again the DRA contacts are Bev Hunter at bhunter@dra.gov or John Collins at 917-496-4587.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS August 18 - Selma, AL Carl C. Morgan Convention Center 211 Washington Street Selma, Alabama

August 23 - Bastrop, LA Bastrop Municipal Center 1901 Moeller Drive Bastrop, Louisiana

August 24 - Pine Bluff, AR Pine Bluff Convention Center 510 South Main Street Pine Bluff, Arkansas