While Southwest Mississippi has not yet picked any economicplums from the Nissan plant being built in Madison County, LakeOkhissa continues to be a boost for this part of the state.

It was announced last week that the U.S. Department of InteriorAppropriations had approved a total of $2 million for the lake,which is currently under construction near Meadville. Of that, $1.4million is earmarked for continued infrastructure development and$600,000 has been set aside for expanding Franklin County’stransportation system.

All this comes as construction on the lake’s $8 million damcontinues. That work should be completed in about a year, andofficials say it will take about 30 months to fill the lake. It’sduring that period that infrastructure work — roads, power, waterand sewer — will be done.

In making the funding announcement, Rep. Ronnie Shows saidresults of the lake would include “jobs, recreation and economicgrowth. This is a project that will pay dividends for years tocome.”

He’s right. Lake Okhissa will certainly be a fine feather inthis area’s cap.