Gov. Hutchinson appointed co-chair of the Delta Regional Authority

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has been named the state’s co-chair of the Delta Regional Authority’s Board of Governors. He replaces outgoing co-chair Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey . He will serve alongside DRA federal co-chairman Chris Caldwell, a Little Rock native.

“DRA is grateful to have an experienced leader familiar with the challenges the Delta faces to serve as Arkansas’s co-chair,” Caldwell said. “His strong leadership will be a tremendous asset to DRA as we work with state and local leaders to grow jobs, improve lives and build communities in the region.”

Hutchinson was sworn in as the 46th governor of Arkansas in January 2015. Job expansion has been a key component of Hutchinson’s agenda. Hutchinson has been in conversation with CEOs of major industries across the globe from Silicon Valley to France, Japan, Israel, Germany, China and Cuba, according to the DRA. Hutchinson has pushed for education reforms, implementing his initiative to require computer-coding in every public high school.

“It is an honor to be appointed to serve as a leader of the Delta Regional Authority, whose programs deliver targeted investments to encourage economic development and improve infrastructure across our region,” Hutchinson said. “DRA is supportive of the efforts to enhance infrastructure, support business development and workforce training for the eight states it serves. Arkansas is fortunate to be one of them.”

“Gov. Hutchinson is dedicated to bringing jobs and businesses to Arkansas, and his leadership in this area will benefit DRA as a whole,” Amy Fecher, the state’s designee to the DRA board of governors said.