NATCHEZ — More than 15 economic and community leaders convened Monday morning at Natchez City Hall for the inaugural meeting of the Natchez-Adams County Economic Development Council.

The council’s purpose is to “foster relationships, communications and joint strategies among local economic leaders to encourage diverse economic growth, job creation and enhanced quality of life,” said Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell.

“We have a rich history here in the City of Natchez,” Grennell said during Monday’s meeting. “Everywhere I go, I hear people say to me, ‘Darryl, you’ve got the best-kept secret in the country,’ and I get so sick and tired of it. I don’t want it to be a secret anymore.”

Grennell said all of the economic council meetings are open to the public, and he handpicked various community leaders to be members of the newly developed council.

Nearly all of the appointees attended Monday’s meeting, including Adams County Administrator Joe Murray; Debbie Hudson, the president/CEO of the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce; Natchez Inc. Executive Director Chandler Russ; Chesney Doyle, president of FOR Natchez and Downtown Development; Lance Harris, president of the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission; Warren Reuther, whose company owns the Natchez Grand Hotel and manages the Natchez Convention Center; Kathleen Jenkins, the superintendent of the Natchez National Historical Park; Carter Burns, director of the Historic Natchez Foundation; Tabitha Wroten, president of the Board of Realtors; Tate Hobdy, chairman of the Natchez-Adams County Recreation Commission; Lance Boyd, CEO of Merit Health Natchez; Anthony Hauer, director of the Natchez-Adams County Port; Gary Holloway, president of the Natchez-Adams County Airport Commission and Teresa Busby, vice president of Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Natchez campus.

Not in attendance Monday were Council appointees Fred Butcher, Natchez-Adams School District superintendent, and Jennifer Ogden-Combs, executive director of Visit Natchez, who were unable to attend.

Also in attendance were Jimmy Ware of the Business and Civic League; David Carter, district two county supervisor and Zandra McDonald, deputy superintendent of the NASD, who was attending in Butcher’s absence.

“Each one of you is an economic leader in this community,” Grennell said. “That’s why I’ve selected each of you to be here today. We need to use the art of synergy. We need to work together to move this community — not just the City of Natchez, but the entire Adams County community — forward.”

Each attendee shared similar concerns for the Natchez-Adams’ community, particularly about population loss, crime rate and lack of available jobs.

Carter, who also manages several automobile dealerships, said the community can be run much like a business and no city is without flaws.

“Crime plays a part of it, but where can you go that doesn’t have crime?” Carter said. “Workforce opportunity — from finding qualified people and getting them here — is a challenge. … How do we sell ourselves as a city and as a community and amplify the positive things that will draw someone here?”

Hobdy said he agrees with Carter and added that Natchez has a shrinking millennial population.

“I remember when I was growing up in Natchez and it was selling (itself) as a retirement community,” Hobdy said. “I think that is one of the biggest mistakes that we’ve ever made. Now we’re missing a generation. … Millennials are moving out and not coming back. … You have to get jobs here to bring the millennials back. That to me is our biggest failing point.”

Grennell said he hopes the same voices will revisit the discussion on a weekly basis, starting at 11 a.m. each Monday in the City Hall conference room, and later organize a plan of action to address the concerns that were voiced.

No actions were taken during Monday’s meeting.