JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The recession is causing organizers to delay a three-day conference that was designed give black mayors from six southern states a chance to discuss economic development strategies and ways to tap into the federal stimulus program.

The Gulf Coast Black Mayors Conference was to be held July 12-15 at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., with mayors from Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, and Florida scheduled to attend. Organizers now hope the event can be reset for next month.

James Gilmore, the organizer of the conference, said Monday that many mayors who wanted to attend are dealing with budget cuts, causing them to be more frugal about travel expenses.