This story isthe second in a three-part series on the past, present and possible future of the Natchez and Vidalia riverfronts.

Vidalia is ready to roll with the next phase of development on the Riverfront.

Construction on the Vidalia Gateway and Welcome Center, a large convention and tourism center that&8217;s been discussed for years, is about to begin in the next two weeks. It&8217;s a big step for the town and the area as the riverfront takes another step toward its final result, Mayor Hyram Copeland said.

&8220;I&8217;m just very happy seeing what&8217;s happening,&8221; Riverfront Commission member Pat Biglane said. &8220;It&8217;s beyond our wildest dreams. It&8217;s nice to see the riverfronts on both sides &8212; they&8217;re like bookends for the Natchez side and the Vidalia side. To have them on both sides is good for the Miss-Lou as a whole.&8221;

Copeland said the Gateway Center is the latest step in work on the Riverfront.

&8220;What we had in mind was a $25-35 million public/private complex,&8221; Copeland said. &8220;This is another piece of the puzzle.&8221;

And the town is already booking conferences to come to the new center in anticipation of its November 2006 opening, Copeland said.

In addition to the convention space, the new center will have the Louisiana Welcome Center and space for exhibits about Concordia Parish.

&8220;The interpretive center with exhibits of local history and geography,&8221; Riverfront Commission Chairman Ralph Shields said. &8220;It will give tourists a way to know something about the area.&8221;

The Riverfront is also a magnet for attracting economic development for other parts of the city, Copeland said.

&8220;We&8217;re working to develop the business section in the town, bringing in large retail and industry,&8221; Copeland said. &8220;Everything we do here enhances the Miss-Lou.&8221;

Copeland is also proud of the River View Park and Resort, a camper park on the far southern end of the Riverfront, in an area that was once a plum thicket.

&8220;One day some years back Audrey Talley and I went through and he said this would make a nice RV park,&8221; he said. &8220;We cleared that out &8212; took out literally tons of scrap metal and other debris &8212; and now we have a nice RV park.&8221;

There are also more developments on the way. A new hospital facility will join RiverPark Medical Center, the clinic already on the riverfront.

The new facility will be operated by Promise Specialty Hospitals and should start construction in the next few months. Other retail and business outlets are considering a move to the Riverfront, Copeland said.

&8220;We have had some interest from retail outlets about possibly moving to the Riverfront, but it&8217;s too early to know anything for sure,&8221; Copeland said.

The town has also secured a $250,000 grant for improvements to the boat ramp south of the riverfront and eventually a marina that will go there.

Christian Schmidt is the Lousiana reporter for The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3550.