VIDALIA — Vidalia officials are all smiles this week since the city on the move could receive a total of $5 million in funding for the 40-acre Vidalia port facility.

The Vidalia port was included in Gov. Bobby Jindal’s capital construction proposal for the next fiscal year, which was submitted to the Legislature in the form of House Bill 2.

The bill includes $1 million for development of the 40-acre Vidalia port, with $4 million in Priority 5 funding, for a total investment of $5 million.

Concordia Parish Economic Director Heather Malone said the inclusion of the Vidalia port in the bill shows that state leaders understand the significance the project can have for the area.

“The participation of the local, state and federal levels only shows it as a more successful project,” Malone said. “We’re extremely excited about every piece of the port puzzle, and this is just going to get us one step closer to the end result.”

Vidalia had previously applied for an $11 million grant to complete phases two and three of the port.

In December, Vidalia was notified that it would not be receiving any funds from the grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program.

The grant, which is part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, would allow for phases two and three to get under way. Currently the port is in the final stages of phase one.

A new application was submitted earlier this month for the new round of funding, and Malone said a determination would be made in as little as two months.

Malone said the $5 million outlined in the state bill would be put toward the port’s infrastructure.

Mayor Hyram Copeland said he was extremely excited to hear the port could receive the funding and said it wouldn’t be possible without a strong working relationship with several people.

“I want to commend Sen. Neil Riser and Rep. Andy Anders and the governor for including us in this bill,” Copeland said. “This is a blessing in disguise, and we’re just waiting finish this project and start brining new business to Vidalia.”

The bill is currently pending review from the House Ways and Means Committee.