NATCHEZ — Standing atop a levee at the Adams County Port, federal, state and local leaders pointed to an empty field Wednesday and saw enormous possibilities.

Delta Regional Authority Co-Chairman Chris Masingill announced a $2,325,500 investment in Adams County to support the first phase of construction of the Belwood levee. The levee would make 110 acres of county-owned property near the port suitable for industrial use.

“To the naked eye, some may say, that’s just an empty field and a former golf course,” Masingill said. “But for those of us in economic development, this, quite frankly, is the window to the future.

“The future of job creation and economic opportunity for Adams County, for Natchez, for Concordia Parish and quite frankly the entire region.”

The DRA grant is for $1,266,500 and the remaining $1,059,000 is coming from non-federal sources. Adams County Board of Supervisors President Mike Lazarus said the approximately $1 million was spent on infrastructure improvements including moving a sewer line.

The funding is part of $7.2 million in investment coming to Mississippi for infrastructure improvements through Community Infrastructure Fund projects.

“This investment today of $2.3 million into this port to help expand this opportunity is one of the single largest investments that we have ever made at the DRA,” Masingill said. “That is a big deal.”

Lazarus said the investment was important to the community.

“Our kids are going to be able to come back home and work,” Lazarus said. “We are going to find something to put on this piece of property that is positive, with plenty of jobs and plenty of money.

“That’s what it is all about — the future of Adams County.”

Lazarus said for approximately 20 years the Belwood site has been popular with industrial clients, but none of them have had time to wait for the levee to get built.

“It is like a chicken-and-egg-type thing,” Lazarus said. “Now we are going to have the levee — Chandler (Russ) — that is going to put a big burden on you. No more excuses!”

Russ, executive director with Natchez Inc., the area’s economic development entity, said he was up for the challenge. With four active clients looking at the site, Russ said it was about finding a business that would bring a number of jobs at a decent wage to the community,

On the other side of the ring-levee on which the conference was held lies a levee-protected area filled with industrial companies including World Energy, Genesis Energy, Great River

Industries and Bastech, The complex has seen a capital investment of $355 million while employing 480 people, Russ said.

Russ said he hoped to mirror that development on the Belwood property, though Russ said he was looking for one to two companies to fill the location. Russ said he would like to see the property create 450-500 jobs and see an investment of $350 million come back into the community.

“I truly believe — with this levee built — this is one of the most marketable properties on the lower Mississippi River,” Russ said. “You have railroad, port and river access in one spot — there just aren’t many properties out there like that.”

Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell said the investment was a great birthday present for the city — celebrating 300 years.

“Great things are going to continue to happen for this community — I am extremely optimistic,” Grennell said. “Mike said the magic words — the future. It is about our children and our grandchildren.

“If they choose to come back to Natchez to live, there will be jobs.”

Masingill said the potential to help Concordia Parish was part of what helped Natchez receive the grant.

Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft echoed that sentiment saying cooperation in the region excites him for the future.

“I believe we have the leaders and the personnel in place to make this the next boom area of the South,” he said. “It is going to take a lot of work, but the spirit of cooperation on both sides of the river is outstanding.”

Lazarus and three other members of the board of supervisors — Calvin Butler, Ricky Gray and Angela Hutchins — attended the National Association of Counties Conference in Washington, D.C., in February. During the conference trip, the board lobbied U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran (R-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Jackson) for several projects, including the former Belwood Country Club levee.

The delegation mentioned applying for a Delta Regional Authority Grant, and all three said they would endorse the project, Lazarus said.

“I want to thank Sen. Cochran and the Delta Regional Authority for their faith in Adams County,” said Sen. Bob Dearing (D-Natchez). “This development will mean so much to our community.”