Flaggs, Warren County officials in D.C. this week

Published 6:48 pm Monday, March 5, 2018

Mayor George Flaggs Jr. will be attending the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative Annual Capitol Conference when it meets Tuesday in Washington, D.C., according to information from the mayor’s office.

The MRCTI is an organization of mayors of cities along the Mississippi River whose purpose is to protect, develop, and enhance the natural attributes and economic vitality of the main stem of the Mississippi River.

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

Flaggs is in Washington as a member of a group of Warren County officials and business and community leaders making its annual trip to visit with the state’s congressional delegation.

The MRCTI conference will meet with members of Congress, the Trump administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss issues affecting the Mississippi. Conference members will also attend seminars focused on the sustainability of the Mississippi River.

“We’ve got mayors representing cities from 10 states coming in,” Flaggs said. “We’re looking how we can lobby Congress and sustain the most important resource we have in our country, and that’s the Mississippi River.”

He said the conference plans to meet with members of Congress to get increased funding for capital improvements for cities along the river and increased support for shipping on the Mississippi.

“The Mississippi River transports 40 percent of the nation’s total agricultural output. That’s $12 to $47 billion in benefits to the local economies. That’s why it’s so important,” he said.

“And the president’s infrastructure bill includes for the first time funding for rivers and ports. That’s encouraging to us.”

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

email author More by John