NATCHEZ — The Natchez Visitor Center’s transfer to the National Park Service received a boost from the federal budget bill signed into law by President Trump last Friday.

The omnibus bill included language that will expedite the transfer of the visitor center, which officials say they intend to add to the Natchez National Historical Park.

Though an accompanying committee report acknowledged that the NPS and city would like to accomplish the donation in “a timely fashion,” Natchez National Historical Park Superintendent Kathleen Bond said her department expects to hear more details after a few weeks.

Bond said the federal budget included increased funding for the NPS, but also that government agencies are still working to figure out exactly how that money will be put to use.

“I’ll let you know something as soon as I know something,” Bond said.

Talks of transferring ownership of the visitor center — which has seen a decline in state funding in recent years — have been ongoing over the past year. The visitor center serves as a state welcome center, but also is one of the few city-owned visitor centers in Mississippi.