United Methodist Senior Services of Mississippi has reached a hurdle in its plans to locate a retirement center in Natchez – a $4 million hurdle, to be exact.

After studying the needs of the community, officials have decided they need to raise $4 million locally for the project to be financially feasible.

This is more than the nonprofit nondenominational organization has ever needed to raise for its 11 other retirement centers located across the state, the group stated in a press release Friday.

&uot;At this time we felt like the $4 million dollar figure would be a very tough goal to reach without a major donor,&uot; said Page Ogden, president of Britton and Koontz First National Bank and chairman of the project’s community wide steering committee.

After meeting this month, officials think unless two or three people decide to make large donations totaling about $2 million to the project, its future looks grim.

&uot;It’s not going to be a reality until you get some major leadership in the giving area.&uot; Ogden said.

Ogden said he expects the project will take more time and publicity than originally expected for construction to take place.

&uot;I don’t want to say the project is dead by any means,&uot; Ogden said. &uot;We’ve got to go back to the drawing board and connect the right people with the need.&uot;

Natalie Cochran, development director for United Methodist Senior Services of Mississippi, agrees.

A committee decided &uot;unless three or four individuals with a passion for Natchez and the welfare of her aging sons and daughters join together and make gifts totaling $2 million, we should not go much further for now,&uot; Cochran said in a press release.

United Methodist Senior Services of Mississippi has been working to develop a facility in Natchez for at least two years.

The facility was to be located on donated property next to Beau Pre Country Club on U.S. 61 South and was to include 70 units: 40 independent living units and 30 personal care or assisted living units.

The project was estimated to cost around $7.6 million even though the Natchez market is considered small, officials said.

Further adding to the problem, officials have also decided extra features once considered optional for long-term success in Natchez are now essential.

These include such items as larger one and two bedroom apartments, washer and dryer connections in each apartment, private screened patios, increased space for community activities, an on-site fitness center and eventually walking and biking trails.

&uot;The combination of the relatively small market and the high expectations of that market present the dilemma,&uot;&160;said Steve McAlilly, president and chief executive officer of United Methodist Senior Services of Mississippi, in a press release. &uot;If you reduced the size and features of the building it would be less marketable in an already small market; if you increased the rates to cover more debt service you would be shrinking the available market even further.&uot;

Natchez resident Troy Watkins, who has been a big supporter of the project, was disappointed to hear the news.

&uot;I thought it was a done deal,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s not encouraging.&uot;

Originally the organization had expected to spend the next year raising funding and the following 12 to 18 months doing construction, with an estimated completion date of spring 2003.