Nothing but a good secret builds excitement to a fever pitch.

Even though a decent chunk of those in attendance at Tuesday’s economic development announcement actually knew the name Elevance and some of the details of the 165 jobs coming our way, sharing the news with those who didn’t was still exciting enough.

So, despite a searing sun and Southern summer temperatures, several hundred people packed into a small area to hear the big news.

The ceremony itself was your typical dog and pony show; each high-ranking politician had a chance to say a few words, few of which meant much to the average Joe.

After the initial announcement, the show wasn’t in what the officials said, but instead in what the attendees could see.

On stage, in the chairs and standing around the tent had to be one of the most diverse groups of people any such economic development announcement has ever garnered.

Let’s start with the company itself.

Elevance Renewable Sciences’ CEO is a woman.

The vice president for manufacturing, who came along too, is a black male.

Both executives are easily in a minority in the corporate world, but certainly fit right in Natchez. They sat alongside the female chairman of Natchez Inc. and the black male who leads our county’s government.

Sounds like a pretty good fit.

But the picture was even better when you turned your eyes away from the stage and into the crowd.

The oldest member of the community present to hear the news was likely near 80, the youngest was around 6.

For a boring announcement on a summer day great for swimming, the number of children in attendance was interesting. Granted, most had a connection to some of the officials present — Natchez Inc. Executive Director Chandler Russ’ boys were there — the young faces under the tents clearly showed why economic development matters.

Black, white, male, female, working and retired, Natchez and Adams County were well represented at the announcement. Even one small dog barked his approval halfway through the ceremony.

It would have been easy enough to stay in the air-conditioned luxury of a house or office and follow live updates on our website or flip on the radio, but for the dozens in attendance, that wasn’t good enough.

A secret was being unveiled and being in the midst of the excitement was too much to pass up.

News of a “major economic development” project — as Natchez Inc. had billed it to the public — doesn’t come every day in these parts, and for a community that lately has felt a bit down in the dumps, the news was sorely needed and greatly welcomed.

Though elected officials, appointed board members and key business leaders made up a large part of the group, those regular Joes in their midst told the true story of our community to Elevance’s top leaders Tuesday.

Thankfully, a diverse group stared back at one another from either side of the stage. That diversity of experiences, opinions and ideas could be the magic ingredient that takes this product and our community to the top.

Julie Cooper is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.