[11/30/03]Officials in the city planning department say that a federal designation along the U.S. 61 South corridor could bring more tourism to Vicksburg and grant money for preservation and improvements.

The total grant for the corridor, from Warren County to Wilkinson County, could be up to $25 million.

The city has set a public hearing on the grant for 5 p.m. Dec. 10 at City Hall in the second floor board room. The hearing is a required step in a process that city planner Wayne Mansfield says can make the 100-mile route eligible for the money.

“It’s a good attempt at developing economic activity along this corridor,” Mansfield said.

The route beginning at the Vicksburg National Military Park has won preliminary approval with a Mississippi Department of Transportation Committee. The next step is to seek designation through the Legislature as a historic byway.

Across the state, 13 corridors were submitted to MDOT, but only six were selected, said community planner Kelly McCaffrey.

The project is a cooperative effort between Vicksburg, Claiborne County, Natchez and the Great Mississippi River Parkway Commission. To be considered for the federal program, applications must show the corridor has significant historical and natural resources along the route, McCaffrey said.

Area sites included in the application are the Vicksburg National Military Park, on old U.S. 61, or North Washington Street, and Clay Street; the Coca-Cola Museum on Washington; Grand Gulf Military Park and the Ruins of Windsor, both in Claiborne County; Emerald Mound and historical plantations and churches.

The Mississippi River and scenic overlooks are included among natural resources along the route.

“The federal government sees it as a way to create more park-like settings,” McCaffrey said.

He said guidelines for the grant part of the program have not been written, but the city does not want to pass up a shot at $25 million. Those guidelines will be written by MDOT, he said.

Along with a plan for preservation of resources along the U.S. 61 corridor, officials working on the project are also developing a marketing plan, site maps and identifying more sites along the route.

McCaffrey said no deadline has been set for submitting a final application, but that they are aiming to have it ready for the start of the legislative session in January.

The route moves from Vicksburg, south to Port Gibson and west to Grand Gulf Park in Claiborne County, south through Jefferson and Adams counties and ends at Woodville in Wilkinson County.