By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Governor Bob Riley and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour canceled their plans to attend Friday's meeting to discuss economic growth in the Black Belt region. Governor Riley's press office released a statement Friday morning that said both governors would miss the event. The two governors agreed last year to begin developing a joint project to attract businesses to west Alabama and east Mississippi. Both states plan to discuss ways to share resources, including water, electricity and suppliers. Despite the cancellations by Governors Riley and Barbour, the meeting at the University of West Alabama was not canceled.