NATCHEZ — The Natchez Green Alliance may have found a new home.

The group dedicated to bringing environmental awareness and education to the area presented its mission to the Natchez-Adams County Community Alliance board Thursday.

Green Alliance member Steve McNerney told Community Alliance members the group is not large enough to operate independently as a not-for-profit organization and needs a larger entity to represent it.

The Community Alliance is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to represent and unite other organizations to promote the area.

Currently the alliance projects consist of the Natchez Trails project, Phatwater Kayak Challenge and Natchez: City of Lights Christmas celebration.

Alliance chairman John Holyoak said the alliance would like to have five projects under its umbrella by August.

McNerney said without designation as a not-for-profit group, the Green Alliance misses out on opportunities for grant funding and educational projects.

McNerney said creating awareness is one goal, but the ultimate goal is to turn Natchez into a recycling community.

“Curbside recycling would be the ultimate goal, but to get that in Natchez is going to be a difficult process,” he said.

City Engineer David Gardner said there is currently a push to bring southwest Mississippi more up-to-date in terms of recycling, and Natchez could be a leader in that.

“The Mississippi (Department of Environmental Quality) is heading that effort up,” Gardner said. “Soon (a recycling program) is going to be a requirement from the state.”

The Community Alliance did not vote to accept or reject the Green Alliance as a partnering organization.

The Community Alliance is also looking for a member to head up a committee charged with organizing the group’s yearly community service project.

Holyoak said the community projects committee will be responsible for selecting a project that is visible in the community.

“We want this to be a project that people see and ask ‘Who did that,’” Holyoak said.

No one was named to chair that committee, but project suggestions were made. Those included upkeep of the Watkins Street Cemetery or maintenance of the Natchez welcome signs.