Most folks agree that our area could use a shot in the economic arm.

But how do we get there and what will it take to succeed?

The answer seems fairly complicated and will take lots of work and maybe a little luck, too.

Less than a year ago, after the board of supervisors torpedoed the former economic development authority by temporarily yanking funding and suggesting it was broken, a new EDA was formed.

Interestingly, this one is different. It’s led by the business community, with five of its seven board members coming from the private sector, two are appointed by government agencies.

Although the manner in which the old EDA was sunk was less than elegant, the new EDA, named Natchez Inc., appears to be well on the way to success.

Natchez Inc. is currently in the process of interviewing prospective executive directors.

Since this group is a private, non-profit, those job interviews are handled in private. But as those interviews are going on, it’s a good time to point out that we’re not hiring a deity here.

The man or woman who is ultimately chosen to be the primary salesperson for our area cannot work miracles.

Even the best EDA person cannot just snap their fingers and conjure up a huge new manufacturer.

We’d be wise to have reasonable expectations, realizing that good economic development often comes from strong, well-developed communities.

Far from being a miracle worker, the person must be a realist, but a realist with some vision and great communication skills.

Natchez is a beautiful area with a great quality of life, but like most places we have lots of problems.

Our workforce is not as skilled or educated as some of our competitors across the nation. That’s a problem and one that can’t be easily fixed. It will take lots of work and time to improve education.

Recent discussions to work with other communities along state borders seeking changes to Mississippi and Louisiana’s out-of-state tuition rules are a start.

Providing a local, affordable college or vocational education available is critical.

A second plan to offer financial assistance for students who sort of fall through the gaps — that is ones who don’t have the financial means to attend college, but don’t qualify for certain scholarships or grants — is also needed.

Lots of people fuss over public assistance, and when you see someone obviously abusing and milking the system, it will make your blood boil.

However, if creating a system to prevent more dropouts and perhaps provide our youth with some functional work skills is possible, by all means, let’s explore it.

Improving education is a key to many problems our community faces — crime, health care, drugs.

From a logistical standpoint, we may always be hindered a bit by our location. Our area isn’t close enough to larger cities to be a real draw for some types of businesses.

And, we may always struggle to compete with other communities — northeast Mississippi, for example — where the Tennessee Valley Authority provides the region extremely low-cost electrical power.

But, for all the naysayers who doubt pretty much anyone with a vision for improvement or the belief that Natchez, Adams County and the rest of the region can grow and prosper, maybe you’re right.

You folks should probably leave town — soon — so the rest of us can get down to solving problems rather than just complaining about them.

Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.