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Updated March 29, 2022
Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities:
Overview of Structure and Activities
Federal regional commissions and authorities address
supported by the ARC and advise on local priorities and
perceived regional economic underdevelopment. These
issues. Accordingly, state and local governments,
organizations generally accommodate multileveled and
governmental entities, and nonprofit organizations are
multijurisdictional participation and implementation, which
eligible for the ARC’s funding. Uniquely, this includes
Congress could utilize to address growing interest in broad-
federal- and potentially state-designated tribal entities.
based and intensive economic development efforts. Current
commissions and authorities represent some regions; other
The ARC statutorily designates counties according to levels
regions could adopt similar entities. This In Focus outlines
of economic distress, which determine matching fund
each organization’s structure, activities, and recent funding.
requirements for grants. The ARC’s multileveled and
For this report, FY2022 funding amounts include annual as
multijurisdictional structure and activities make it a unique
well as supplemental appropriations from P.L. 117-58.
model of federal economic development, which is emulated
in some other federal regional commissions and authorities.
Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was
Table 1. Appropriations for the ARC FY2015-FY2022
established in 1965 to address economic distress in the
$ in millions
Appalachian region. The ARC’s jurisdiction spans 423
counties in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, New York,
FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22
Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,
$90
$146 $152 $155 $165 $175 $180 $395
South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The ARC is a federal-state partnership, with administrative
Source: Compiled by CRS using data from P.L. 113-235, P.L. 114-
costs shared equally by the federal government and member
113, P.L. 115-31, P.L. 115-141, P.L. 115-244, P.L. 116-94; P.L. 116-
states; its economic development activities are federally
260, and P.L. 117-103. FY2022 amounts include $200 mil ion
funded (Table 1). Thirteen state governors and a federal co-
provided in P.L. 117-58, Div. J. Div. J also provided $200 mil ion in
chair oversee the ARC. The co-chair is appointed by the
advance appropriations each year from FY2023 through FY2026.
President with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate.
The current federal co-chair is Gayle Manchin, whose
Delta Regional Authority
tenure began in May 2021. Virginia Governor Ralph
The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) was established in
Northam is the states’ co-chair, which is selected by the
2000 (P.L. 106-554) to address economic distress in the
governors.
Mississippi River Delta region. The DRA’s jurisdiction
includes 252 designated parishes in Louisiana and counties
According to authorizing legislation (40 U.S.C. §14101-
in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi,
14704), the ARC’s programs abide by a Regional
Missouri, and Tennessee. Like the ARC, the DRA is a
Development Plan, which is comprised of the strategic plan,
federal-state partnership that shares administrative expenses
bylaws, state development plans, the annual strategy
equally, while activities are federally funded (Table 2). The
statement for each participating state, the annual program
DRA is governed by the eight state governors and a federal
budget, and internal implementation and performance
co-chair appointed by the President with the advice and
management guidelines. The strategic plan is typically a
consent of the U.S. Senate. The current federal co-chair is
five-year document, reviewed annually, and revised as
Corey Wiggins, whose tenure began in March 2022. The
necessary. The current strategic plan, adopted in October
states’ co-chair is currently Missouri Governor Mike
2021, prioritizes five investment goals: (1) entrepreneurial
Parson.
and business development; (2) workforce development; (3)
infrastructure development; (4) natural and cultural assets;
The DRA strategic plan illuminates economic development
and (5) leadership and community capacity.
priorities. Its third and current strategic plan—Regional
Development Plan III—was released in April 2016. The
The ARC’s structure enables local and state-level agenda-
strategic plan lists three goals: workforce competitiveness;
setting and implementation tied to federal and multistate
strengthened infrastructure; and increased community
regional perspectives. The ARC’s economic development
capacity. The DRA uses a federal-state-local model similar
activities include significant state and local input. Through
to the ARC’s. State development plans are required by
state plans and annual work statements, state governments
statute, and are issued every five years to coincide with the
regularly establish goals, priorities, and agendas for
strategic plan. The DRA funds projects through a supported
fulfilling them. State-level planning typically includes
network of 44 LDDs. By statute, the DRA directs at least
consultation with a network of 74 multicounty local
75% of funds to distressed counties; half those funds target
development districts (LDDs), which are financially
transportation and basic infrastructure.
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Table 2. Appropriations for the DRA FY2015-FY2022
(1) modernizing infrastructure; (2) creating and sustaining
$ in millions
jobs; and (3) anticipating and capitalizing on shifting
economic and demographic trends. The NBRC invests
FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22
along four program areas: (1) economic and infrastructure
development; (2) the regional forest economy partnership;
$12.0 $25.0 $25.0 $25.0 $25.0 $30.0 $30.0 $180.1
(3) local development districts; and (4) comprehensive
Source: Compiled by CRS using data from P.L. 113-235, P.L. 114-
planning for states. The NBRC also works with LDDs to
113, P.L. 115-31, P.L. 115-141, P.L. 115-244, P.L. 116-94; P.L. 116-
identify opportunities, conduct outreach, and administer
260; and P.L. 117-103. FY2022 amounts include $150 mil ion
grant funds, from which LDDs receive fees.
provided in P.L. 117-58, Div. J.
Table 4. Appropriations for the NBRC FY2015-FY2022
Denali Commission
$ in millions
The Denali Commission was established in 1998 (P.L. 105-
FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22
277) to provide rural economic development in Alaska. It is
unique as a single-state regional commission and relies on
$5
$7
$10
$15
$20
$25
$30
$185
federal funding for its expenses and activities (Table 3). By
statute, it is comprised of seven members (or a designated
Source: Compiled by CRS using data from P.L. 113-235, P.L. 114-
nominee) appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce,
113, P.L. 115-31, P.L. 115-141, P.L. 115-244, P.L. 116-94; P.L. 116-
including the federal co-chair; the Alaska Governor, who is
260; and P.L. 117-103. FY2022 amounts include $150 mil ion
state co-chair; the University of Alaska president; the
provided in P.L. 117-58, Div. J.
Alaska Municipal League president; the Alaska Federation
of Natives president; the Alaska State AFL-CIO president;
Northern Great Plains Regional Authority
and the Associated General Contractors of Alaska
The Northern Great Plains Regional Authority (NGPRA)
president. Garrett Boyle is the federal co-chair. The Denali
was created in 2002 (P.L. 107-171) to address economic
Commission is statutorily required to create an annual work
distress in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and
plan, which solicits project proposals, guides activities, and
South Dakota. While the NGPRA was authorized $30
informs a five-year strategic plan. The current FY2018-
million from FY2002 to FY2018, it appears to have
FY2022 strategic plan, released in October 2017, lists four
received appropriations once—for $1.5 million in FY2004
strategic goals and objectives: (1) facilities management;
(P.L. 108-199). Its authorization lapsed in 2019.
(2) infrastructure protection from ecological change; (3)
Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
energy, including storage, production, heating, and
The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC) was
electricity; and (4) innovation and collaboration. The Denali
established in 2008 (P.L. 110-234). SCRC’s jurisdiction
Commission’s recent activities are oriented to energy and
includes parts of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North
infrastructure protection. Denali does not make explicit use
Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and all of Florida. In
of LDDs or similar entities.
December 2021, the Senate confirmed the first federal co-
chair, Jennifer Reed, enabling the commission to convene.
Table 3. Appropriations for the Denali Commission
FY2015-FY2022
Table 5.Appropriations for the SCRC FY2015-FY2022
$ in millions
$ in millions
FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22
FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22
$10.0 $11.0 $15.0 $30.0 $15.0 $15.0 $15.0 $90.1
$0.25 $0.25 $0.25 $0.25 $0.25 $0.25 $1.00 $10.00
Source: Compiled by CRS using data from P.L. 113-235, P.L. 114-
Source: Compiled by CRS using data from P.L. 113-235, P.L. 114-
113, P.L. 115-31, P.L. 115-141, P.L. 115-244, P.L. 116-94; P.L. 116-
113, P.L. 115-31, P.L. 115-141, P.L. 115-244, P.L. 116-94; P.L. 116-
260; and P.L. 117-103. FY2022 amounts include $75 mil ion provided
260; and P.L. 117-103. FY2022 amounts include $5 mil ion provided
in P.L. 117-58, Div. J.
in P.L. 117-58, Div. J.
Northern Border Regional Commission
Southwest Border Regional Commission
The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) was
The Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC) was
created in 2008 (P.L. 110-234) to alleviate economic
established by Congress in 2008 along with SCRC and the
distress in northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and
NBRC, and shares an identical governing structure and
New York. Administrative costs are shared equally between
legislative authorization. SBRC encompasses the southern
the states and the federal government, while activities are
border regions of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and
federally funded (Table 4). The NBRC includes a federal
Texas. SBRC has received consistent funding
co-chair, appointed by the President by and with the advice
authorizations since 2008. SBRC received appropriations in
and consent of the U.S. Senate, and the five governors, of
FY2021 and FY2022, but does not appear to be active.
which one is appointed state co-chair. Chris Saunders is the
current federal co-chair since March 2022. New
Julie M. Lawhorn, Analyst in Economic Development
Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu is the state co-chair.
Policy
The NBRC’s activities are guided by a five-year strategic
IF11140
plan. Its current 2017-2022 strategic plan lists three goals:
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Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities: Overview of Structure and Activities
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