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March 18, 2019
Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities:
Overview of Structure and Activities
Federal regional commissions and authorities address
issues. Accordingly, state and local governments,
perceived regional economic under-development. These
governmental entities, and nonprofit organizations are
organizations generally accommodate multi-leveled and
eligible for the ARC’s funding. Uniquely, this includes
multi-jurisdictional participation and implementation,
federal- and potentially state-designated tribal entities.
which Congress could utilize to address growing interest in
broad-based and intensive economic development efforts.
The ARC statutorily designates counties according to levels
Current commissions and authorities represent some
of economic distress, which determine matching fund
regions; other regions could adopt similar entities. This In
requirements for grants. In descending order of distress:
Focus outlines each organization’s structure, activities, and
attainment (0% funding allowance); competitive (30%);
recent funding, but reserves broader policy analysis for
transitional (50%); at-risk (70%); and distressed (80%).
future reporting.
Special allowances may reduce or discharge matches, and
match requirements may be met with other federal funds
Appalachian Regional Commission
when allowed. The ARC’s multileveled and multi-
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was
jurisdictional structure and activities make it a unique
established in 1965 to address economic distress in the
model of federal economic development, which is emulated
Appalachian region. The ARC’s jurisdiction spans 420
in some other federal regional commissions and authorities.
counties in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, New York,
Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,
Table 1. Appropriations for the ARC FY2015-FY2019
South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
$ in millions
The ARC is a federal-state partnership, with administrative
costs shared equally by the federal government and member
FY2015
FY2016
FY2017
FY2018
FY2019
states, while economic development activities are federally
$90
$146
$152
$155
$165
funded (Table 1). Thirteen state governors and a federal co-
chair oversee the ARC. The co-chair is appointed by the
Source: Compiled by CRS using data from P.L. 113-235, P.L. 114-
President with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate.
113, P.L. 115-31, P.L. 115-141, and P.L. 115-244.
The current federal co-chair is Tim Thomas, whose tenure
began in April 2018. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper
Delta Regional Authority
is the states’ co-chair, whom is selected by the governors.
The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) was established in
2000 (P.L. 106-554) to address economic distress in the
According to authorizing legislation (40 U.S.C. §14101-
Mississippi River Delta region. The DRA’s jurisdiction
14704.), the ARC’s programs abide by a Regional
includes 252 designated parishes in Louisiana and counties
Development Plan, which is comprised of the strategic plan,
in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi,
bylaws, state development plans, the annual strategy
Missouri, and Tennessee. Like the ARC, the DRA is a
statement for each participating state, the annual program
federal-state partnership that shares administrative expenses
budget, and internal implementation and performance
equally, while activities are federally funded (Table 2). The
management guidelines. The strategic plan is typically a
DRA is governed by the eight state governors and a federal
five-year document, reviewed annually, and revised as
co-chair appointed by the President with the advice and
necessary. The current strategic plan, adopted in November
consent of the U.S. Senate. As of January 2018, the current
2015, prioritizes five investment goals: (1) entrepreneurial
federal co-chair is Christopher Caldwell. One governor is
and business development; (2) workforce development; (3)
selected as the states’ co-chair of the DRA, which is
infrastructure development; (4) natural and cultural assets;
currently Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin.
and (5) leadership and community capacity.
The DRA strategic plan illuminates economic development
The ARC’s structure enables local and state-level agenda-
priorities. Its third and current strategic plan—Regional
setting and implementation tied to federal and multistate
Development Plan III—was released in April 2016. The
regional perspectives. The ARC’s economic development
strategic plan lists three goals: workforce competitiveness;
activities include significant state and local input. Through
strengthened infrastructure; and increased community
state plans and annual work statements, state governments
capacity. The DRA uses a federal-state-local model similar
regularly establish goals, priorities, and agendas for
to the ARC’s. State development plans are required by
fulfilling them. State-level planning typically includes
statute, and are issued every five years to coincide with the
consultation with a network of 73 multicounty local
strategic plan. The DRA funds projects through a supported
development districts (LDDs), which are financially
network of 44 LDDs. By statute, the DRA directs at least
supported by the ARC and advise on local priorities and
75% of funds to distressed counties; half those funds target
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transportation and basic infrastructure. As of FY2018, 234
(1) modernizing infrastructure; (2) creating and sustaining
of the DRA’s 252 counties are considered distressed.
jobs; and (3) anticipating and capitalizing on shifting
economic and demographic trends. The NBRC invests
Table 2. Appropriations for the DRA FY2015-FY2019
along four program areas: (1) economic and infrastructure
$ in millions
development (EID); (2) comprehensive planning for states;
(3) local development districts; and (4) general planning,
FY2015
FY2016
FY2017
FY2018
FY2019
for other needs. The NBRC’s annual EID investment
program provides approximately $1.5-2.5 million for each
$12
$25
$25
$25
$25
state for economic development activities, which may
Source: Compiled by CRS using data from P.L. 113-235, P.L. 114-
require up to a 50% match depending on distress. The
113, P.L. 115-31, P.L. 115-141, and P.L. 115-244.
NBRC also uses 16 LDDs to identify opportunities, conduct
outreach, and administer grant funds, from which LDDs
Denali Commission
receive fees.
The Denali Commission was established in 1998 (P.L. 105-
277) to provide rural economic development in Alaska. It is
Table 4. Appropriations for the NBRC FY2015-FY2019
unique as a single-state regional commission and relies on
$ in millions
federal funding for its expenses and activities (Table 3). By
statute, it is comprised of seven members (or a designated
FY2015
FY2016
FY2017
FY2018
FY2019
nominee) appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce,
$5
$7
$10
$15
$20
including the federal co-chair; the Alaska Governor, who is
state co-chair; the University of Alaska president; the
Source: Compiled by CRS using data from P.L. 113-235, P.L. 114-
Alaska Municipal League president; the Alaska Federation
113, P.L. 115-31, P.L. 115-141, and P.L. 115-244.
of Natives president; the Alaska State AFL-CIO president;
and the Associated General Contractors of Alaska
Northern Great Plains Regional Authority
president. John Torgerson is the interim federal co-chair.
The Northern Great Plains Regional Authority (NGPRA)
was created in 2002 (P.L. 107-171) to address economic
The Denali Commission is statutorily required to create an
distress in Iowa Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and
annual work plan, which solicits project proposals, guides
South Dakota. The NGPRA was legislatively structured
activities, and informs a five-year strategic plan. The
with a federal co-chair and participating governors (with a
current FY2018-FY2022 strategic plan, released in October
designated state co-chair) as well as a Native American
2017, lists four strategic goals and objectives: (1) facilities
tribal co-chair. The founding statute also created Northern
management; (2) infrastructure protection from ecological
Great Plains, Inc., a 501(c)(3) as a resource for regional
change; (3) energy, including storage, production, heating,
issues and international trade. While the NGPRA was
and electricity; and (4) innovation and collaboration. The
authorized $30 million from FY2002 to FY2018, it appears
Denali Commission’s recent activities are largely oriented
to have received appropriations once—for $1.5 million in
to energy and infrastructure protection. Denali does not
FY2004 (P.L. 108-199). Its authorization lapsed in 2019.
make explicit use of LDDs or their analogues.
Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
Table 3. Appropriations for the Denali Commission
The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission was
FY2015-FY2019
established in 2008 with the NBRC and the Southwest
$ in millions
Border Regional Commission, which were all modeled after
the ARC. Southeast Crescent’s jurisdiction includes parts of
FY2015
FY2016
FY2017
FY2018
FY2019
Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Virginia, and all of Florida. Congress authorized
$10
$11
$15
$30
$15
$30 million funding levels each fiscal year from FY2008 to
Source: Compiled by CRS using data from P.L. 113-235, P.L. 114-
FY2018, and $33 million in FY2019, but appropriated
113, P.L. 115-31, P.L. 115-141, and P.L. 115-244.
$250,000 in each of FY2010-FY2019. As of March 2019,
Southeast Crescent does not appear active.
Northern Border Regional Commission
The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) was
Southwest Border Regional Commission
created in 2008 (P.L. 110-234) to alleviate economic
The Southwest Border Regional Commission was
distress in northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and
established by Congress in 2008 along with Southeast
New York. Administrative costs are shared equally between
Crescent and the NBRC, and shares an identical governing
the states and the federal government, while activities are
structure and legislative authorization. Southwest Border
federally funded (Table 4). The NBRC includes a federal
encompasses the southern border regions of Arizona,
co-chair, appointed by the President by and with the advice
California, New Mexico, and Texas. Southwest Border has
and consent of the U.S. Senate, and the five governors, of
received consistent funding authorizations since it was
which one is appointed state co-chair. Harold B. Parker is
established. Southeast Border never received an
the current federal co-chair since October 2018. Governor
appropriation and does not appear to be active.
Phil Scott of Vermont is the current state co-chair.
Michael H. Cecire, Analyst in Intergovernmental Relations
The NBRC’s activities are guided by a five-year strategic
and Economic Development Policy
plan. Its current 2017-2021 strategic plan lists three goals:
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Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities: Overview of Structure and Activities
IF11140
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