Alphabet Soup In addition to the Works Progress Administration, several other programs – the NRA, CCC, PWA, FERA, CWA, and NYA – had an important impact in Lawrence. This “alphabet soup” of New Deal agencies represented an unprecedented federal commitment to stimulating the economy, rebuilding communities, and creating jobs. The far-reaching nature of these programs sparked controversy between passionate supporters and vehement critics of the Roosevelt administration. In Lawrence, New Deal projects and political debates became an integral part of everyday life.
