NATCHEZ &045; Wanted: Energetic, visionary salesman with proven track record of landing and expanding businesses.

Must arrive with full Rolodex of economic development contacts. Must be an effective communicator who can pull city, county and other partners together to work to make development happen. Must also already be familiar with the area.

True, the Economic Development Authority’s board has not yet convened to discuss the wording of a &uot;help wanted&uot; that attract a replacement for Michael Ferdinand, who resigned Friday as the EDA’s executive director.

But if aldermen, county supervisors and EDA board members contacted Monday were to come up with a help wanted ad for a new EDA director, the above listing might be pretty close.

Those who could be reached Monday said that &045; more specifically and in no certain order &045; they like as an EDA director someone who is:

4Familiar with state and federal business incentives.

4Equipped with a network of contacts in industry, government, utilities, colleges and universities and other economic development partners &045; and comes with good recommendations.

4An energetic, outgoing person who will be proactive about selling Natchez &045; &uot;a real salesman,&uot; in one public official’s terms &045; based on the assets the area has to offer prospects.

4Someone who is already familiar enough with the area to hit the ground running to sell Natchez once he gets here &045; and familiar enough with the politics of the state to work the system to this area’s advantage.

4Someone who already has a proven track record of landing new businesses and helping existing businesses expand.

4Someone who can work with the city and county, as well as surrounding agencies, to lead them in defining where they want Natchez to be economically and to work together to make that happen.

4A person who, while he works with others, isn’t afraid to follow his vision of what types of industries are the best fit for Natchez-Adams County &045; what one official called &uot;a self-starter.&uot;

How will the EDA, with the city and county, go about recruiting such a person?

EDA board Chairman Woody Allen said he hopes by Wednesday to contact all his fellow board members to set up a meeting to discuss a future job description for the position and set their strategy for recruiting that person.

Supervisors President Darryl Grennell said he believes a higher salary will have to be offered to attract a person that fits all those criteria.

&uot;When you’re dealing with political (bodies, job) stability is a factor, so you have pay them well&uot; to compensate, Grennell said.

Alderman and Mayor Pro Tem Massey doesn’t buy it.

&uot;I think $80,000 is an excellent salary,&uot; he said, adding that other areas have probably attracted good economic developers with lower salaries.

But can such an economic development director fill all the above criteria for any price?

Some said there’s much more involved in growing an economy than hiring the right EDA director.

James West, vice chairman of the EDA board, said everyone has a role to play in economic development, not just the EDA director.

Things everyday people can do to boost the economy are as simple as being friendly and helpful to out-of-town visitors &045; who could also be business prospects.

&uot;Everybody has a part,&uot; he said.

Alderman Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West, for example, said he believes Natchez and Adams County leaders need to analyze why businesses haven’t moved here in the past and try to address those factors first.

&uot;We need to look at what we’re falling short in, what our negatives are,&uot; he said.

And Supervisor Henry Watts said he questions whether government should be in the business of economic development at all &045; or whether businesspeople themselves should take the lead in industrial development and recruitment.

That, he said, is how it is done in such progressive regional centers as Tupelo.

But if the support isn’t there for the idea, Watts said he would at least like to see the EDA become a department of the county.

As it now stands, because the city and county both fund the EDA, its director answers to both local governments.

&uot;And it’s hard working for two bosses at the same time,&uot; Watts said.