Need a reason for optimism as we head into 2006? Look no further than the good news that made headlines in the last week of 2005 alone:

Both local officials and the area&8217;s legislative delegation have vowed to lobby tirelessly for financial incentives for Rentech.

The Colorado-based fuel manufacturing company has said it plans to invest at least $650 million in a plant in Adams County, provided that incentives come through.

Those include local tax breaks as well as federal incentives and a reported $15 million from the Legislature through the Mississippi Development Authority. The Rentech facility could bring 200 jobs to the area, not counting up to 1,500 jobs during the construction phase alone.

A group from the Community Alliance also plans to venture to Jackson this week to make Natchez&8217;s presense known at the statehouse.

And starting this week, the Boys & Girls Club will start a satellite location at the Sunshine Shelter on North Union Street, a temporary home for abused and neglected children.

By becoming a B&GC location, the shelter gets access to a variety programs to build self-esteem, life skills and the like.

Here&8217;s to another week of good news.

Take Smart Moves, for example. A large part of that B&GC curriculum focuses on activities that build a child&8217;s self-esteem. And that&8217;s something shelter Executive Director Matilda Stephens said many abused children desperately need.

Or Career Prep. That B&GC program teaches teens basic financial management, gives them career assessments and teaches them other life skills.

That&8217;s perfect, since the State Department of Human Services requires such shelters to give their teens a certain number of hours of life skills training.

&8220;We now have to drive them over to the DHS office to give them that training, but now they can do it right here,&8221; Stephens said.

That&8217;s with the aid of a computer lab already set up at the shelter.

Not only that, but being a B&GC location qualifies the shelter to get more tutors to help its children with school subjects.

&8220;We&8217;ll be able to have licensed teachers,&8221; Stephens said.

A group of community leaders are going to the State Capitol to lobby for project funding and bring the state&8217;s attention to southwest Mississippi.

And in the process, they want to show state legislators Natchez-Adams County can and will work together.

They&8217;re attending the Mississippi Economic Council&8217;s Capitol Day, an annual event that includes special issue briefings and a reception with state leaders.

The locals&8217; trip to Capitol Day &8212; set for Thursday, soon after the legislative session&8217;s start &8212; is being sponsored by the Community Alliance, a Chamber of Commerce committee now working to get its own nonprofit status.

When lobbying for specific projects or just getting Natchez&8217;s name out, alliance President Matilda Stephens said, &8220;it&8217;s important for Natchez to present a united front.&8221;

In all, 14 business people and other local leaders have signed up to go on the trip to represent Natchez, with the Isle of Capri sponsoring the cost and providing transportation, alliance member Ralph Tedder said.

&8220;We have people from the (Economic Development Authority), the school system, business people, city (government) people going,&8221; Stephens said. &8220;We&8217;re trying to get a big cross-section.&8221;

In addition to bringing attention to the area in general, the group will lobby for additional funding for proposed walking trails that would run through downtown and along the bluff.