NATCHEZ, Miss. – The state Legislature has passed a bill to let Natchez-Adams County’s two governing boards continue funding the community’s industrial recruitment agency. The legislation awaits Gov. Tate Reeves’ approval to become law.
The measure authorizes the Natchez Board of Aldermen and Adams County Board of Supervisors to increase what they allocate to Natchez Inc. The city board can give the nonprofit corporation $150,000 a year – up from the $100,000 previously allowed. The county board can give Natchez Inc. $225,000 a year – up from the $165,000 previously authorized.
Local governments need the state’s permission to donate funds to a nonprofit organization such as Natchez Inc.
With the law for Natchez Inc. expiring this year, the Mississippi Senate and House voted for the legislation in the winding days of their annual session that concluded Friday. Senate Bill 2931 becomes law with the governor’s signature and will be in effect until July 2030.
Natchez Inc. was established in 2010 as the economic development arm for Natchez and Adams County. The agency headed by Chandler Russ and a board of directors works to recruit, retain and expand businesses in the area to create more jobs.
In its efforts to lure new businesses, Natchez Inc. provides economic and demographic information, helps find sites and buildings to occupy and directs industrial prospects to state and local financial incentives. The agency also focuses on workforce training.
The agency’s private funding arm – Natchez Now – is sponsoring a public update Thursday about its recent business development activities. It’ll be held at Bowie’s Rabbit Hole in the Barrel Room at 5:30 p.m.
Natchez Inc. has been mainly focused on trying to find industries to locate on two county-owned properties: the old International Paper mill site and old Belwood Country Club.
Adams County in recent years has succeeded in getting millions of dollars in state and federal funds to enhance these sites by the Mississippi River. While a few tenants have been lured to occupy some of the 478-acre IP property the county bought in 2013, efforts have failed thus far in getting an industry to come to the Belwood site the county got in 1998.
Russ has called Belwood “the best 110-acre site on the Mississippi River” with a newly built levee and appealing accommodations such as utilities, rail lines and easy access to a key water transportation artery.
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