DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Several Iowa and Illinois counties hope to form a sprawling port district along the Mississippi River. Bakers say the plan would improve access to federal funding and aid business development. The Quad-City Times reports that organizers are working on getting governing boards in all 15 counties that share river access to join what would be designated a port statistical area. An application then would be submitted to the Corps of Engineers. If it were approved, the 222-mile-long area would rank 68th in tonnage in the country. The 15 counties have 70 river terminals. Both states are significant exporters of soybeans and corn.