NATCHEZ — The surveys are in.

The surveys, meant to gauge the business community’s concerns and recommendations on the function of the Natchez-Adams Economic Development Authority, were due at the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce office by Friday.

Chamber President Debbie Hudson said she had received approximately 60 completed surveys and is expecting late entries in the coming week.

Approximately 350 surveys were circulated in the local business community to get their perspectives on what changes, if any, need to be made at the EDA.

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

However, the group’s funding has since been restored.

Since the funding cut, Supervisor Mike Lazarus has called for more involvement from the local business community in the EDA.

Hudson said she hopes the survey will reveal ideas for possible changes at the EDA and will get the business community more involved with the organization.

While Hudson has not had an opportunity to review the surveys yet, she said one clear trend has emerged from the surveys she has reviewed.

“They want an economic development authority,” she said of the local business community. “Not one person has said they don’t want it or they don’t think it’s important.”

And though Hudson has only gotten back a small percentage of the surveys that were originally distributed, she said it shows a concern in the community.

“It’s something people want to be involved in,” she said.

Lazarus said he was eager to see the results of the survey.

“It shows people have an interest in this,” Lazarus said. “There are people who care about what’s going on.”

Hudson said it will likely be the first week in April before a 10-person committee meets to review the results of the survey.

Once that’s done, the results will be made into a report that will be given to the supervisors and the Natchez Board of Aldermen.

“We hope some positive change will come from it,” Hudson said.