Recent expansion of a Natchez oil and gas drilling company is symbolic of the future, said U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering.

The congressman was in Natchez Monday to take part in the awarding of an $89,000-grant that makes possible an upgrade of property at Energy Drilling Co. on Liberty Road and the hiring of 25 new employees there.

“The energy field is going to be the highest growth sector in the nation and the most important to our national security (in the near future),” said Pickering, who represents Mississippi’s Third District.

Pickering’s office assisted in obtaining the economic development grant through the Delta Regional Authority.

Winnie Kaiser with the Natchez-Adams County Economic Development Authority and Jeff Rowell, EDA executive director, did initial application and administrative work for the grant.

“What this means is that the improvement of a drainage ditch has made the property usable,” said Pat Burns of Energy Drilling.

“That has helped us to be able to expand our business.”

Woody Allen, chairman of the EDA board, said Energy was eager to expand and found property for sale to the rear of the existing Liberty Road site.

“The only problem was the huge drainage ditch that divided the property. They were not able to get their equipment over that ditch,” Allen said.

The ditch is part of the city drainage system and is located within a City of Natchez right-of-way and utility easement.

David Gardner, city engineer, said the drainage work done at the site matches work completed on adjacent properties.

The city work, which Gardner estimates to be about $70,000 in in-kind contribution to the project, is considered matching money required by the DRA transportation infrastructure grant.

Gardner said in addition to the drainage work, road improvement at the intersection of Liberty Road and Feltus Street includes widening the entrance so that long trucks can turn safely into and out of the property.

The entire project should cost about $160,000 to $170,000, Gardner said, a little cheaper than expected. The DRA grant provides up to the approximately $89,000 awarded Monday with a 50-50 match by the city.

The 25 new workers will increase Energy’s employee number to 200. In addition, the company plans to invest about $4.5 million in the expansion made possible by the new property, Burns said.

Pickering said the DRA grant “helps to leverage millions of dollars and many new jobs. It’s good to be in a community that is celebrating good news.”