Last week, on the eve of a huge economic development announcement for our area, at least a few members of the Adams County Board of Supervisors sought some extra attention.

“Don’t forget that we deserve credit for anything that’s about to be announced,” they cried.

It was, perhaps, the lone disappointing moment amid the good news that an outside business planned to invest more than $225 million in our community.

Instead of simply smiling and saying, “That’s great! How wonderful for our community,” the cry was, “Please pay attention to us and make us feel important!”

In a way, the supervisors were absolutely correct. They deserve all the credit for the torpedoing of the old EDA.

The former EDA was not functioning — most people can agree upon that.

That very responsibility, however, sat squarely on the supervisors in the first place. Under the former EDA system, supervisors had controlling interest on the EDA board.

The supervisors appointed three of five EDA board members. If they didn’t like the direction, or lack thereof, they could have changed the board. Instead they decided to throw a fit and draw attention to themselves by yanking funding suddenly in early 2009.

That’s water under the bridge now.

The 2009 “fit” that was thrown ultimately showed the private sector that it was time to wake up and begin leading our community.

The key to the early success of the revamped EDA, now called Natchez Inc., stems not because of the supervisors, but in spite of them. Sure they signed off on the paperwork and incentives required to lure the company here and we’re happy they did so. But let’s not forget that it’s also their job to do that.

But to claim the supervisors’ role as critically more important than anyone else’s role is ludicrous.

Private business owners — folks who run businesses, build products, serve customers and, sometimes, worry about how they’re going to make their next payroll — have been the real difference in the new Natchez Inc.

Back in 2009, business owners reacted to the threat that the supervisors were talking about cutting the EDA as an option to lower the county’s budget.

Suddenly realizing that the EDA was malfunctioning under a less-than-ideal EDA board and no leader in the executive director position and was operating with a waning support of supervisors, led to quick action.

The chamber of commerce, concerned business leaders and the former EDA’s leadership sought out help from the Mississippi Development Authority. Eventually a consultant was brought in and a new EDA plan was created from scratch.

The new EDA structure had one key difference from past plans, the business community, not politicians, would have controlling interest in the board.

Several dozen local businesses pledged approximately $500,000 of their own business’ money to support the effort.

Each of those people quickly understood how important it was to get involved, support the community and not worry about who gets the credit for successes.

It’s not one group or two groups or even one or two individuals who are deserving of credit.

Our entire community deserves the credit for the progress in economic development. Whether you own a bank that has pledged $10,000 or are a resident who simply pays taxes, Natchez Inc.’s success is your success.

It’s disappointing that some supervisors cannot seem to understand that concept, but as voters that’s our fault not theirs.

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