Economic development experts will often talk about a community’s assets. Those come in all shapes and forms, some tangible, some not so tangible.

But among the most critical assets a community can offer is its transportation infrastructure. Think about it this way: A real economic “win” means someone locating a business in a community to build a world-class product that is shipped elsewhere.

That’s a double-win for the local community. First, the business provides jobs. Second, the sale of the product brings money from elsewhere into the local community.

To gain that “double-win” our community has to offer a business a competitive advantage over other areas of the country. In short, if the numbers don’t work, the business won’t work in our community.

Keeping a competitive advantage on what we can offer prospective businesses in terms of transportation options is critical to our future.

For that reason, we’re pleased to see the work being put into the Southwest Mississippi Railroad Authority. The group is just getting organized and had its first meeting this week.

The purpose of the authority is to provide a backstop should the owner of Natchez-Adams County’s only railroad line opt to abandon the railway.

Critics will throw up all kinds of reasons why it’s silly to buy a railroad, if necessary, but so far, we have yet to hear from those critics exactly what they’d suggest the community do to keep the railway — and the economic options it provides — open for business.