NATCHEZ — Fingers are crossed, heads are bowed and Natchez and Adams County officials are hoping against hope 2011 becomes all they think it can be.

With several big projects on the table but none finalized the weeks and months to come could play out in any number of ways.

Perhaps the biggest unknown is the future of the coal-to-liquid fuel plant, Rentech.

This year, 2011, was the year Rentech officials had outlined for groundbreaking at the Adams County facility on the site of the former International Paper plant.

County board of supervisors President Darryl Grennell said though he hasn’t recently talked to Rentech officials, he’s looking for news this year.

“I’m hoping and praying we’ll see some progress,” he said. “I run into people just about every week who ask, ‘How is that Rentech project coming?’”

The facility, slated to open in 2014, could easily become the largest private employer and could put Adams County on the forefront of green energy.

Mayor Jake Middleton said he’s also waiting eagerly for Rentech news.

“I don’t know if it will get started by the end of this year, but as long as it keeps moving forward, that’s good,” Middleton said.

“I don’t know of any other project this big.”

Middleton and Grennell said they both expect to see progress on a new recreation complex this year.

“We’ve got to sit down and work out, once we look at the design and proposed costs, the methodology of funding,” Grennell said.

Other county projects for 2011 will include:

The hiring of a new county administrator.

Redistricting based on Census 2010 numbers.

An effort to have the bond rating increased, something Grennell said the board expects will happen.

“We should be able to have audits that will show we have improved,” he said. “We have steady records to prove we are in much better shape than we were years back.”

With an improved bond rating the county can continue to improve roads, including some within the city limits, Grennell said.

Construction on a road to the Adams County Port will continue.

Other projects in the city for 2011 will include:

Construction by a private developer of a Holiday Inn Express on Canal Street.

Completion of the first phase of the Natchez Trails Project, constructing a walking trail around the bluff and downtown Natchez.

Continued work on the North Natchez Drainage project and the beginning of a new phase of work.

Efforts to ensure the Natchez to Brookhaven railroad line stays open.

Work to see the opening of a second casino.

“I still have confidence the gaming boat (at Roth Hill) is going to make it and that’s going to help the city financially,” Middleton said. “People are going to come to Natchez to see the new casino.

“And I hope the Grand Soleil (another stalled casino development) gets moving again. I hear that possibility exists.”

Middleton also said he believes the local economy will improve in 2011, easing strain on the city’s budget.

“We were kind of the last to get hit by it, and it seems like we handled it kind of well,” he said. “I think we did our part to keep things under wraps. We watched (the budget) closely.”

Both leaders said they feel positive about the new year and hopeful of great things to come.

“I think things will fall into place,” Middleton said. “It’s just exciting times for Natchez right now and I’m sorry there are some people out there that don’t feel that way.”