NATCHEZ &045; A group of Natchez-Adams County’s governmental and economic development leaders will travel to Jackson today to meet with Gov. Haley Barbour.

West has said the main purpose of the visit will be to impress on Barbour that there are many things the governor can do to help Natchez achieve prosperity.

&uot;We want to solicit the governor’s help and support and make sure he gives Š direction to his staff&uot; to direct assistance to the area, Mayor Phillip West said.

In addition to West, the group will include Adams County supervisors President Darryl Grennell and Vice President Sammy Cauthen, Natchez Alderman and Mayor Pro Tem David Massey and Woody Allen, chairman of the Economic Development Authority.

Allen said his hope for the meeting is that the relationship between Natchez-Adams County and the governor’s office would be further developed.

&uot;This is a first step for us to officially meet with the governor and re-establish that there’s a need for Natchez and Adams County to acquire new jobs,&uot; Allen said.

&uot;And we also want to see what we can do to work with the state to form a better relationship.&uot;

Such a visit will help keep Natchez-Adams County at the forefront of Barbour’s mind in the future, Allen said.

&uot;After all,&uot; Allen said, &uot;(Barbour) is just coming in, and his plate’s been mighty full.&uot;

It is also important to have a cross-section of the area’s leaders attend the meeting to show Barbour the area is united in its desire to move ahead.

The meeting, Allen said, will be similar to a meeting held several years ago with then-Gov. Ronnie Musgrove.