Defraying the cost of a 15-ton crane to unload freight at the Port of Vicksburg got a boost Monday as Warren County supervisors gave the go-ahead to reapply for a $200,000 federal grant through the Delta Regional Authority.

During their regular meeting Monday, supervisors learned from Olie Elfer of Jimmy G. Gouras Urban Planning Consultants Inc. that about $1 million is available through the DRA and time is of the essence. An earlier application was unsuccessful because no funds were available.

Financing a crane is on a lengthy list of repairs and modifications to existing port buildings and equipment that totals $1.9 million.

Among them is rehab work to the overhead crane and T-dock that make up most of that cost. When engineering fees are added, the projected cost rises to $1.9 million.

Grants totaling nearly $700,000 have been secured from the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the Rural Development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which are already reducing the amount of a revolving loan at which port officials were mulling an attempt.

At present, a balance on paper of $489,394 exists. However, any grants above that amount would reduce any possible revolving loan from its present $750,000.

In other business, the board: