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The city of Atmore received a portion of a $2.2 million Delta Regional Authority grant to help build a transload facility for the coming peanut shelling facility.

1. The city will use DRA funds to construct a new rail spur and transload yard to serve a new peanut processing plant facility. The investment is projected to create 100 new jobs, retain 70 jobs and train 100 individuals, according to a release.
2. The total investment by the DRA is $307,071, and the total investment by the project is more than $84 million.
3. The grant for Atmore is one of 10 the DRA announced on Sept. 17.

“The Delta Regional Authority’s $2.2 million investment into 10 critical projects will strengthen economic success in the Alabama Black Belt by improving vital infrastructure and creating opportunities to foster workforce development,” said DRA Federal Co-Chairman Chris Caldwell. “These investments highlight the importance of local and regional public-private partnerships in realizing the long-term success of infrastructure, business, and workforce projects to spur job growth and ultimately improve business competitiveness in the region. I would like to thank Governor Ivey, Senator Shelby, Senator Jones, and the Alabama Congressional delegation for their continued support and commitment to the Delta Regional Authority and our work to create jobs, build communities, and improve the lives of those residing in our region.”

Funding for these projects is provided by the States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP), which provides direct investment into community-based and regional projects to support basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, workforce training and education, and small businesses development with an emphasis on entrepreneurship, and the Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF), which targets physical infrastructure projects that help build safer, more resilient communities in the Delta region. 

DRA coordinates directly with the office of the governor for the State of Alabama and six local development districts in the state for program funding implementation.