PARKERSBURG - A group of officials returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., seeking information on the status of a proposed new National Guard armory.

Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell, City Development Director Ann Conageski and Wood County Economic Development Authority President Keith Burdette returned from Washington Thursday after meeting with the area's congressional leaders.

For the armory project to come to fruition, it needed to make the U.S. Department of Defense's five-year plan. Officials with U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va , expected that to happen a few weeks ago, but they were informed the plan would not be updated this year.

The news left more than a few local officials wondering what -if anything -that meant for the project. Newell said he had some anxiety regarding the status the proposed armory.

"I feel better about it," Newell said. "It was up in the air as far as I was concerned."

The delegation still came way without any definitive answers.

David Herring, spokesman for Mollohan, said the congressman won't know the status of his appropriations request until the end of June or early July. Mollohan recently requested a million dollars for the design and planning of the proposed facility as part of his 2010 appropriations request.

In addition to listing the million-dollar request, Mollohan also submitted the full, estimated cost of the project, more than $39 million.

Mollohan's office lists a $26 million authorization request for a facility to train and support several National Guard units in both federal and state missions and a $13.883 million request for a Parkersburg Field maintenance shop to support more than 230 wheeled vehicles.

"If it is approved, we might come back the following year with a request for construction." Herring said.

According to Newell, Mollohan said the ball is in West Virginia Adj. Gen. Allen Tackett's court.

Newell said Mollohan made it clear Tackett is the driving force on this project.

That provided some comfort for Newell.

"Keep in mind, the armory on Blizzard Drive services only about 35 percent of their needs. They are staffed at 115 or 120 percent. It is inevitable this will happen."

Newell said Mollohan has been in contact with Tackett, which accounts for the project's appropriations request.

The recent changes regarding the update of the Department of Defense's five-year plan has left many congressmen unsure how to proceed.

The mayor thinks the project is still four to five years away. While that may seem like far off, it is still a project.

It is still very much in the works," Newell said.

Newell said local officials also need to be kept up to speed so they are prepared to get involved.

"We need to know as well because we will have to be involved in the bond process, funding the event center part of it," Newell said. "We are very much a part of the building of this."

"It is still very much in play," Herring said. "This is a project close to Congressman Mollohan and he will do what he can to advance it."