I recently returned from an amazingly productive trip to Washington, D.C.

During our stay in the Capital City, we met with our senators and congressmen regarding local infrastructure projects including the four-laning of U.S. 84 (El Camino Corridor), improving the quality of Ferriday’s water and the port of Vidalia.

We did not go to Washington, D.C., asking for a handout. We went to D.C. asking for an opportunity — an opportunity to compete with the rest of the nation and world. Concordia Parish has many positive attributes. We have a good school system that is improving each year. We have a growing health care system that has improved our community’s well being. We are working on quality of life issues in order to retain and draw new business to our area. We currently have four-lane access to I-20 via Louisiana 15. We will soon have complete four-lane access to I-10 via U.S. 61 and we are in full support of the El Camino East/West Corridor initiative, which will provide a third east/west transportation option along U.S. 84.

However, we do not have a rail system in place, which makes us deficient when trying to compete for business. But, if we had a port on the Mississippi River, the largest transportation artery in the United States, our rail deficiencies would be overlooked.

Unfortunately, one deficiency that will not be overlooked is colored drinking water. The Town of Ferriday has been dealing with unclear potable water for several years now and has been working to raise the weir at Marengo Bend Lake at the mouth of Old River (Ferriday’s water source) for a good 10 years. We should not have to ask for clear water — we should expect it! I will work diligently to see that Concordia Parish is provided the resources necessary to help ourselves.

The El Camino Corridor is a five-state initiative to expand the highways along the El Camino Corridor, which will provide four-lane highway access from Brunswick, Ga., to El Paso, Texas, crossing straight through Concordia Parish along U.S. 84.

The four-laning of this highway along with our existing four-lane highways will give Concordia Parish quicker and easier access to Interstates 20, 55 and 10. Most importantly, this corridor will provide commerce and industry, which will in turn create jobs in the smaller, rural towns along this highway, such as Vidalia, Ferriday, Jonesville, Jena, Winnfield, Natchitoches and Many. The Louisiana El Camino Commission received a positive response from the legislative delegation.

The Port of Vidalia was another project discussed during our trip. The proposed port sits on the Mississippi River approximately 2 miles south of the City of Vidalia. There are 2,000 acres of industrial land adjacent to the port site available for development. The City of Vidalia and Concordia Economic Development are currently in the permitting process with the Corps of Engineers. We had a meeting with the director of Civil Works at the Corps of Engineers Headquarters to discuss the process by which we have to go through for permitting. The meeting went extremely well, and we left with more direction than when we entered. Each meeting we went to throughout the week went better than the previous meeting. Through the help of our delegation, I am meeting with the USACE’s district office in Vicksburg, to discuss all permits required to develop the Port of Vidalia, as well as any obstacles that may arise during this process.

The City of Vidalia has already received a $1.2 million grant through the Economic Development Authority, but the total projected cost is $15 million. Sens. Landrieu and Vitter, Rep. Alexander and their legislative aides have been most helpful in finding the best funding sources for our projects and by guiding us through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting process.

The Town of Ferriday receives its potable water from Marengo Bend Lake, which is situated at the mouth of Old (Mississippi) River. The existing weir is too low and does not retain enough water during the summer months when the Mississippi River is at its lowest levels. Therefore, during the months the river is low Ferriday is ‘bottom feeding’ from the river. No doubt, the town makes sure the water is drinkable, but they have to spend thousands of dollars to bring it up to standard.

During our trip to Washington, we discussed this issue with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and our congressional delegation. We asked that they assist us in getting funding to study the existing weir and the potential to raise the weir by seven feet. This would not only provide a clear water source for the Town of Ferriday during the summer months, but raising the weir would also prevent the town from spending thousands of dollars on water treatment.

Our economy is in dire need of assistance. Concordia Parish unemployment weaves in and out of double digits, our average wage is well below that of Louisiana, and we live in the poorest region of the United States. Bringing all of these projects to reality will not only allow us to meet our basic needs, but it will also stimulate our economy. I think that’s worth a trip to Washington, D.C.

Heather L. MALONE is the director of the Concordia Economic and Industrial Development District.