Associated Press - April 4, 2009 3:44 PM ET

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Hills and Mississippi Delta are now official national heritage areas. That gives 30 north Mississippi counties a chance for federal money.

The Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area, the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area and the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area in Alabama are among 10 such areas created by the public lands bill that President Barack Obama signed Monday.

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss. says it will increase chances for tourism, boosting the state's economy.

The bill also authorizes up to $1 million annually for 10 years for each area - the actual amount depending on available money.

The 37 national heritage areas designated earlier include the Mississippi Gulf Coast and, in Louisiana, the Cane River area.

Information from: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, http://www.djournal.com

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