A Mobile, Ala., firm is conducting a feasibility study to find &uot;the best fit&uot; industries for southwest Mississippi.

Jeff Stacy of Stacy & Associates in Mobile updated the Adams County Board of Supervisors on his firm’s research efforts on behalf of Alcorn State University’s Center for Rural Life and Economic Development.

The company is working with the center to explore ways to develop business in Adams, Jefferson, Claiborne, Wilkinson and Franklin counties.

&uot;We’ve been successful in northeast and northwest Mississippi, and we’d like to create a success in southwest Mississippi,&uot; Stacy said.

The study should yield information for the center to use in developing a long-term regional business plan and, ultimately, regional business incubators, Stacy said. &uot;We will look for the best fit industries for this area,&uot; he said.

Representatives from Stacy & Associates will return to Adams County in two to three weeks to meet with Adams County leadership for guidance in the project.

In other business, supervisors:

— Heard from Roy Geoghegan of the Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District, who reported that the county’s application for state grant funding to complete the Foster Mound industrial site was moving forward.

A 30-day public comment period begins today, Barring any negative public comments in that period, the $160,000 in Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development matching funds will be released. The funds will be used to build an access road, dig a water well and prepare the industrial site, Geoghegan said.

If questions are raised, Geoghegan said the board approval granted Monday is nullified and the grant application would come before supervisors for the questions to be resolved.

Geoghegan admits the process has been heavy with paperwork, but the result will be worth it. &uot;At least we’re getting closer to getting an answer.&uot;