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Federal commission profiles
The U.S. federal regional commissions
The clearest, best-documented examples of regional commissions in the United States are the federal regional commissions and authorities: standing federal–state partnerships, each covering a defined multi-state region, created to invest in economic development and infrastructure where it lags. There are nine, ranging from a body established in 1965 to two authorised only in 2025.
What they have in common
Most of these bodies share a common design. They pair a federal co-chair — in the multi-state cases, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate — with the governors of the member states, one of whom serves as the states' co-chair. Major decisions require both sides to agree, so neither the national government nor the states can act alone. Each invests an appropriation as grants across its region, with a strong emphasis on the most economically distressed communities.
The newer commissions share a common statutory home in the United States Code, under the subtitle on regional economic and infrastructure development (Title 40, Subtitle V). The oldest bodies — Appalachia, the Delta, and Denali — sit under their own separate statutes, a legacy of having been created earlier and individually.
Two things that must both be true for a commission to operate
Being written into law is not enough. A federal regional commission can only actually function when both of the following are in place:
- A confirmed federal co-chair — without one, the body cannot convene or act.
- An appropriation — being authorised to receive up to a set amount is not the same as actually being given money.
This is why several commissions below exist on paper yet are marked “not yet active.” It is a genuine and current feature of this landscape, not an oversight.
The nine bodies at a glance
Appalachian Regional Commission
13 states, 423 counties. The original model. Active and funded.
Auth. 2000 · ActiveDelta Regional Authority
8 states, 252 counties and parishes in the Mississippi Delta. Active and funded.
Est. 1998 · ActiveDenali Commission
Rural and remote Alaska. Distinct governance. Active and funded.
Auth. 2008 · ActiveNorthern Border Regional Commission
Rural counties of ME, NH, VT, and NY. Active and funded.
Auth. 2008 · ActiveSouthwest Border Regional Commission
Border counties of AZ, CA, NM, and TX. Active since 2022.
Auth. 2008 · ActiveSoutheast Crescent Regional Commission
7 southeastern states, ~428 counties. Active since 2021.
Est. 2022 · Not yet activeGreat Lakes Authority
Great Lakes watershed across 8 states. Authorised but not yet operating.
Est. 2025 · Not yet activeMid-Atlantic Regional Commission
DE, plus parts of MD and PA. Authorised but not yet operating.
Est. 2025 · Not yet activeSouthern New England Regional Commission
RI, MA, and part of CT. Authorised but not yet operating.
Active versus authorised
Six of the nine are currently active and running grant programs: the three long-established bodies (Appalachia, the Delta, Denali) plus the three commissions from the 2008 framework that have since stood up (Northern Border, Southwest Border, and Southeast Crescent). The remaining three — the Great Lakes Authority and the Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England commissions — have been created in law but had not yet begun operating as of early 2026, chiefly because none had a confirmed federal co-chair. Their profiles explain exactly where each one stands.
A note on accuracy: appropriations, co-chair appointments, and the exact list of eligible counties all change over time. The figures and status notes here reflect the public record as summarised in recent non-partisan congressional research; for a current, authoritative figure, follow the primary-source links on each profile and on the resources page.