WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., announced a grant for a 10-mile critical freight corridor between Bentonia and Yazoo City made possible by a $35 million federal investment. The funding stems from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Senator Wicker helped negotiate as a top Republican in the U.S. Senate.

Senator Wicker sent a letter of support to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for this project. The effort will rehabilitate a portion of the existing 4-lane rural freight corridor on US 49, which will improve regional transportation and promote commercial activity.

“Infrastructure investments for rural areas are a top priority. Mississippians need access to safe, reliable transportation and an equal opportunity to draw more economic development. This grant funding is an investment in Yazoo County’s future,” Wicker said.

About the federal funding and Senator Wicker’s involvement:

The grant, which will be administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, is part of the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program, also known as the “Rural” grant program.

The program is part of the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) program, which was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Senator Wicker was a key negotiator of this legislation as the lead Republican on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.