NATCHEZ &045; The city’s grant writer was in place as of Tuesday, but she’s not setting her first priorities until she knows what other city officials have as theirs.

Brett Brinegar will meet with Mayor Phillip West later this week, and with aldermen and department heads as soon as possible, to see what they want to see city government accomplish and in what order.

Equipped with that information, Brinegar will better know what funds to pursue. &uot;The worst thing is to go after (grants) for things you don’t need,&uot; Brinegar said.

She also hopes to pick up cues on the city’s programs and priorities in Tuesday’s aldermen meeting.

Projects West has already said he would like to accomplish during this term and would like a grant writer to work closely on include:

4Drafting, with aldermen, a more current plan for development of the riverfront, including a convention center hotel.

4Developing a video showing &uot;all the things Natchez has offer&uot; in economic development, quality of life and history to market the area to potential investors.

4Finding new ways to publicize the planned Forks of the Road interpretive center nationwide to draw in more tourists.

4Establishing, in partnership with other local governments and Alcorn State University, a high-technology park anchored by a digital imaging center.

4Establishing with Alcorn State University a performing arts center.

4Reviewing the city’s ordinances regarding beautification, especially with regards to vacant or dilapidated housing and commercial buildings.

4Forming a nonprofit corporation to raising private-sector money to help fund recreation improvements.

4Seek a feasibility study from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to have St. Catherine Creek developed into a waterway for erosion control and recreation purposes.

In addition to other duties at Mississippi State University’s Center for International Security and Strategic Studies, Brinegar worked as a grant writer and research assistant. She and her team landed three-fourths of the funding they sought.

Brinegar has written and administered grants for the Medical University of South Carolina, civic groups and corporations and wrote reports on municipal needs, renovation of historic sites and archaeological projects.

The city has already seen what a person dedicated to writing and administering grants can do.

James Johnston, who had worked for the city since June 1999, left a similar position in February 2003 to become Claiborne County’s executive director of community development outreach.

During his full-time employment with the city, Johnston was involved in various roles in securing more than $11.86 million in grants for recreation, public works, social services, beautification, housing and fire equipment.

And Brinegar herself can’t wait work with other officials to reel in grants to help meet the city’s needs.

&uot;I look forward to working with everyone in city government,&uot; she said.