NATCHEZ &8212; After several years of financial help from the Adams County Board of Supervisors, the Natchez-Adams County Port can now stand on its own, Executive Port Directory Anthony Hauer said Tuesday.

This is the first fiscal year the port commission has had no need for supervisors money to help with operating costs, he said.

&8220;For me, this is a big achievement,&8221; Hauer said. &8220;It&8217;s all because of joint efforts. For everybody who goes into making this place work, kudos.&8221;

Several years ago, after the International Paper plant closed, the board of supervisors began helping the port with operations costs, he said.

Since they are the governing body for the port, they could issue bonds, he said.

The port has slowly weaned itself off county assistance for those costs, supplementing them with Mississippi Department of Transportation grants, Hauer said.

Over the past fiscal year, as of July, the port has generated over $1 million in revenue, he said.

The growth in revenue is a direct result of diligence and concentrated effort, he said.

The number of clients has risen, too, helping raise revenue. When IP closed, the port was left with two or three clients, Hauer said. They built on those a few at a time and are now up to about 15 consistent clients.

Because of the increase in revenue, Hauer presented a check for $50,000 to the board of supervisors at Tuesday&8217;s meeting. Hauer said he did not consider it repayment but, instead, cooperation.

In the past few years, the port has installed new railroad track and restored equipment, he said.

The port commission will probably continue to make improvements and maintain the facility, Hauer said, but they have no big plans for new projects in the near future.