NATCHEZ — Miss-Lou officials will travel to Washington, D.C., today to promote an initiative to create a four-lane highway running from Georgia to Texas, as well as a variety of other projects.

The El Camino 5-State East/West Corridor Commission will gather at the nation’s Capitol for the meeting to discuss a project that began in 1989.

The mayors of both Natchez and Vidalia as well as several others from the area will be among those carrying the message.

The El Camino Corridor — named after a historic Indian and Spanish trail — is 1,729 miles of U.S. 84 running from Brunswick, Ga., to El Paso, Texas. The commission was formed in 1989 with the goal of boosting economic development along the highway, and for the last six years, the group has traveled to the nation’s capital to meet with congressional leaders to lobby for funding to four-lane the highway.

Mississippi commission member Janet Sullivan said even though U.S. 84 is four-laned throughout Mississippi, all of the states along the corridor have an interest in seeing the other states get four lanes for the highway.

“We will have group meetings with those from the Louisiana and Alabama congressional delegation just to give our support for those states,” Sullivan said. “Louisiana has made some good strides, and Alabama has generated a lot of interest in the last year. We just have to keep going forward to make sure this project is completed.”

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said ensuring the other states who are part of the project have support is critical to seeing a finished product.

“Mississippi has completed its segment, but of course there’s still a lot of advancing for the other states who have not,” Brown said. “It’s important that we make those meetings to show our support.”

While the group is in Washington, they will also take advantage of the time to meet with congressional leaders about other projects. Brown said he would take the opportunity to meet with all of the congressional delegation and the National Park Service about revenue or funding for the city’s 2016 tricentennial celebration, as well as U.S. Army Corps of Engineer officials for a project that could bring an additional boat landing to Under the Hill.

“We’ve got a full slate of meetings planned,” Brown said. “We need to work the Hill like we always do, and keep everyone informed on the projects we’re working on.”

Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said the Concordia Parish delegation would meet with congressional leaders about Vidalia port’s development, business prospects that are contingent on the port developing further, the Vidalia broadband project and Concordia Parish’s drainage issues.

“We’ve got a group of people going that are assigned to each project we’re working on,” Copeland said. “We’ve all got several meetings planned for each project, so it’s going to be a busy trip.”

Concordia Parish Economic Development Director Heather Malone said while they won’t be seeking funds for the port project, presenting updates on the project is just a vital.

“We definitely want to give them a courtesy of updating them on where we are, what’s the next step and things like that,” Malone said. “While we’re not really asking for anything right now, we want to give them a huge ‘Thank You’ for their support.”

Former Ferriday Mayor and Vidalia administrative assistant Glen McGlothin, Vidalia Conference and Convention Center Director H.L. Irvin and Vidalia Marketing and Public Relations Director Sheri Rabb — who are all El Camino commission members representing Louisiana — will also attend. Vidalia grants coordinator Teresa Dennis and IT director Bobby Paul will join the other Vidalia representatives.

Natchez Community Development Director James Johnston will join Brown in representing the City of Natchez.

All officials are scheduled to return Thursday.