This week Vidalia officials found out they will receive $1 million in grant funds from the U.S. Department of commerce for a slackwater port at the industrial park.

That’s on top of $470,000 in capital outlay the Legislature has already approved for the $2.4 million project and $65,000 the town has been invited to apply for by Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s office.

Vidalia needs this project in order to attract new industries to the area &045;&045; and, in turn, create more jobs for the entire Miss-Lou, which has experienced tough economic times in recent years.

In fact, the town is already in negotiations with an industry that could bring 250 jobs to the area.

The need for such a port is made even more apparent when you consider that Vidalia does not have rail service and that four-laning of the region’s highways &045;&045; which will be an economic development boon in itself &045;&045; are not yet completed.

Put in this latest success in context by considering Vidalia’s other recent headlines.

Those include the work that continues on the town’s growing riverfront to small businesses coming to town to recreational improvements that are now in the works.

How does Vidalia do it? Teamwork among local officials and citizens as well as with state and federal legislators.

Putting aside turf battles, players come to the table not only to discuss not only problems, but solutions and funding &045;&045; without worrying about who gets the credit.

That kind of teamwork is something Natchez and Adams County can emulate. We must move past focusing on the things we can’t change &045;&045; and focus on the things we can.