As Legislators convene a special session Monday intended to discuss Gov. Ronnie Musgrove’s new economic development plan, our first inclination is to feel a bit left out.

While Musgrove’s plan contains a few broad, statewide changes that may benefit Natchez and Adams County, for the most part, we likely won’t see any &uot;quick-fix,&uot; tangible benefits to our area’s economic development.

And whose fault is that?

It would be easy simply to blame Musgrove. But the issue isn’t that simple. We must look in our own backyard to find the solution to our future economic growth.

We shouldn’t expect anyone to help our community reach our goals; it’s entirely up to citizens of Natchez and Adams County.

In the last two years, the Natchez-Adams County Economic and Community Development Authority’s future has been alternately hotly debated and completely ignored.

The result has been a loss of faith in our community’s leadership. Our general feeling was, if we can’t agree on this — something that mutually benefits us all — what can we agree on?

The aldermen and supervisors should be commended for accomplishing something we’d almost lost hope on — coming to an agreement on the makeup of the authority and how to fund it.

That basic step is complete. It’s behind us.

Now we need action.

The authority, which for the last two years has been treated like the proverbial red-headed stepchild, must be championed by city and county leaders — soon.

A proposal recently was tossed onto the table to have both boards quickly choose their representatives, well before the authority receives legislative approval — expected next spring. Doing so will help the authority get a jump start on its business.

Let’s not waste another week, let’s go ahead and begin revamping the authority’s board. And, more important, each of us needs to begin taking ownership in the authority and its future.

When will we all realize that we’re all in this together?

The ball is rolling, let’s keep it that way.