NATCHEZ — After three years as the Natchez-Adams Economic Development Authority’s Executive Director, Jeff Rowell is leaving Natchez.

His contract expires at the end of this month — and he said he won’t be renewing that contract.

While Rowell’s time in Natchez has come to an end, his career in economic development isn’t over yet.

Rowell has taken a position as President and CEO of the West Point-Clay County Growth Alliance.

He said his role with the organization will be very similar to the work he’s done in Natchez over the past three years.

“I feel it was a fairly successful run,” Rowell said of his time in Natchez. “But I’m looking forward to moving on.”

In looking back over his time in the city, Rowell identified the cultivation of the CCA prison complex and the work done with Dynasteel as his some of his most successful endeavors.

And now that Rowell has made his intentions known, the EDA board faces the task of finding his replacement.

EDA board Chairman Woody Allen said he wasn’t surprised when he got a call from Rowell last week notifying him of Rowell’s plans.

“He has fulfilled his contract with us,” Allen said.

While Allen did say he believes it’s typical for economic directors to change jobs with some regularity, neither Allen nor Rowell mentioned the recent discontent on the board that ended with one board member’s departure.

Board member Vidal Davis left the board in April after saying he wasn’t pleased with Rowell’s performance on the board.

Rowell declined to comment on the matter.

Allen said the board has no time frame currently in place for selecting a new executive director.

Allen said the board won’t likely take up the matter until after the first of the year, around the same time Rowell will be starting his new job.

Rowell came to Natchez in January 2006 after working as the Pontotoc Chamber of Commerce Director.

He filled a slot that had been open for six months following the resignation of Michael Ferdinand.