NATCHEZ &045; Access, new ideas and a trained workforce were three of the things economic development panelists said were most important in bringing jobs to communities at Thursday’s African American Elected and Appointed Officials Summit.

&uot;There’s a gap between the resources and the beneficiaries,&uot; said Marlene Williams of the Fiscal Integrity & Economic Development Foundation in Brandon. &uot;It takes access and ability. We need to bridge the gap.&uot;

Williams encouraged the city and county leaders to develop relationships between their economic development authorities and their offices and to know what state opportunities are out there, including the Mississippi Development Authority.

Herb Irvin, of Irvin and Associates in Jackson, said successful economic development was the brainchild of new ideas and strategies.

&uot;You have to be open,&uot; he said. &uot;Feel free to hire a consultant. It’s OK to admit you don’t have all the answers, if you don’t know it, say you don’t know it.&uot;

Bill Cooley, president of Systems Consultants, Inc., said part of building economic success is teaching children and teenagers how to be good in business.

&uot;We need to start mentoring in terms of economic development,&uot; he said. &uot;Mentor kids in the community. Teach children entrepreneurship, to sell something from a stand.&uot;

Williams said she’d like to see more junior apprenticeship programs giving children the opportunity to be in the business environment.

Developing community economic development that served a wide cross section of people was something the panelists said was important.

&uot;In smaller communities you just have to have a plan, a vision&uot; Hinds County EDA Director Jason Brookins said. &uot;There are two things, industrial development and retail development. You are not only looking at industrial and retail but at quality of life.&uot;

Brookins said development of both kinds would follow population growth, which follows quality of life. He also said economic development takes work.

&uot;It doesn’t happen by itself,&uot; he said. &uot;And it doesn’t happen overnight.&uot;

About 200 elected and appointed black leaders are attending the summit, which concludes today, at the Convention Center.

Thursday’s other sessions included education, legislative issues and healthcare.