We have to tip our cap to our locally elected leaders and their effort in making the recent Mississippi Legislative session a success that is expected to benefit our community.

Most of our locally elected leaders, in particular Mayor George Flaggs Jr. and Alderman Alex Monsour, went to Jackson and with the help of our local legislative delegates — state reps Kevin Ford and Oscar Denton, and state senator Briggs Hopson — secured funding for local projects.

From the $700 million BP oil settlement funds, Vicksburg should receive $2.5 million to be used for the high-tech innovation and tech transfer center proposed for location in the Mississippi Hardware Building.

In addition, the city of Vicksburg will receive $1 million to be used for a feasibility study, the first step in a new port facility here.

The city of Vicksburg will also receive about $820,000 from a bill designed to send a share of the taxes collected on Internet sales to cities and counties. Warren County will get about $600,000 from the legislation.

It just shows, once again, that by our locally elected leaders working together, Vicksburg and Warren County can benefit economically, and as a result, bring more jobs to our area.

It also shows those outside Warren County who are thinking of doing business here that we are serious about economic development and most of our local leaders will work with you.