FORT PAYNE — The DeKalb County Economic Development Authority has been approved for a $24,787 Appalachian Regional Commission grant, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt announced Wednesday. The funding will support business outreach software and staff training.
The grant will fund a project called Enhancing Capacity Through Systems Modernization. Local sources are providing another $9,000, bringing the total project cost to $33,787, according to a release from Aderholt’s office.
What the Funding Will Do
The authority plans to implement a customer relationship management system. The software will help staff organize business outreach, contacts with existing industries and inquiries about potential projects. Aderholt’s office said it will also improve reporting, strategic planning and decisions by the authority’s leadership.
In addition, the project will provide access to economic development research and technical assistance. It will support leadership training and other professional development. According to the release, those activities will benefit one organization and three workers.
Aderholt said the investment would strengthen the authority’s work with existing businesses and help it respond to expansion opportunities. He also cited its potential to improve workforce awareness and economic development planning.
“This investment will create long-term prosperity and strengthen economic development for DeKalb County,” Aderholt said.
The Authority’s Local Role
The DeKalb County Economic Development Authority serves as a point of contact for companies considering industrial sites in the county. It works with public and private partners to help businesses explore locations and opportunities.
The authority’s website lists manufacturing, automotive suppliers, textiles, food processing and distribution among DeKalb County’s existing industries. The new system is intended to help its staff track contacts and project inquiries as it carries out that work.
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development partnership between the federal government and 13 state governments. Congress appropriates funding for its grant programs.
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