Just a few years ago Adams County had almost no good, developable industrial land in its economic development tool belt.

Today the county’s position has changed drastically. Having acquired the 478-acre, former International Paper site in 2012, the county is more prepared for industrial prospects than perhaps ever before.

In addition to the former IP site, with the help of struggling alternative fuels manufacturer KiOR, the former Belwood Country Club site is also cleared and nearly ready for redevelopment.

That gives the county considerable acreage near the Natchez-Adams County Port to help lure more industry to the area. Such available land is critical if the area is to gain more good-paying industrial jobs again.

County leaders need to be careful, however, and not allow the urge to “unload” the property to cause them to make poor decisions. Selling off bits and pieces of the land likely isn’t the highest and best use of the prime real estate — and it runs the risk of allowing a piece of property to sit idle for years if the owner’s plans changed.

We hope leaders look to the future, not the immediate, as they seek to figure out the best way to utilize these two enormous county assets.

Among the most important things to consider is how the county can ensure the property is used for the betterment of the county. Our community has seen first-hand what can happen when industrial locations are shuttered and left vacant for more than a decade. Let’s vow to never lose control of our area’s industrial real estate again.