NATCHEZ — An economic development authority is needed in Adams County, but the one currently in place needs changes.

When the local business community was surveyed recently on the effectiveness of Natchez-Adams Economic Development Authority, those two things became very clear, Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Hudson said.

“They want an EDA,” Hudson said. “And the one we have needs to be changed.”

Click here for a pdf of the results from the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce survey.

The chamber circulated the survey within the member businesses in March and released the results of the survey late this week.

Hudson said she felt it was very important to include the local business community in the ongoing talks about the EDA.

“Business brings more business, and (the EDA) has a great impact on local business,” Hudson said. “And we wanted to get the voice of business.”

In January, citing a lack of economic development in Adams County, the Adams County Board of Supervisors cut funding to the EDA.

Funding was later returned, but a new conversation on how to change the EDA developed.

Of the approximately 350 surveys sent out, 61 were returned.

Hudson said she believed the first and 10th questions were the most important and said the most about the EDA situation.

The first question asks: Do we need a professional development organization representing our community?

Only one person answered “no.”

The tenth question asks: Do you feel steps should be taken to learn what EDA structures and efforts have been successful in other similarly sized communities?

Fifty-seven responders thought looking at other EDAs was a good idea, two were unsure and two opposed the idea.

Adams County Supervisor Mike Lazarus, like Hudson, said he felt the first and 10th questions were critical.

“This shows people want it, but that they want a change,” he said. “We need to find out what that change is. Right now, we’re not doing it right.”

Of those who responded, 43 felt multiple agencies should be included in assisting new businesses coming into the area, 13 thought the EDA needed a strong leader to improve the current structure and 18 felt a weak public school system was the biggest obstacle in the community’s future success in terms of economic development.

And discussions on the EDA are not over.

On April 21, city, county, EDA and chamber officials will all meet to hear a presentation from the Lewis Berger Group.

Over the past year and a half, the Berger Group studied the EDA and has compiled a list of recommendations to improve the group’s function.