Adams County officials are lining up Tuesday in a show of support for the Rentech deal.

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on a bill that would provide $15 million in bonds to finance infrastructure improvements at the former Belwood Country Club site, where the Colorado fuel manufacturer wants to build a coal gasification plant.

Senators, House members, local supervisors and EDA officials are prepared to be there to impress upon committee members how important this bill and this plant are to Adams County and Southwest Mississippi.

The $15 million is a drop in the bucket compared to the $800 million Rentech has committed to the project &8212; which would create an ultimate 200 jobs, along with up to 1,500 construction positions along the way. Safeguards are built into the bill to protect taxpayers&8217; money.

Rentech is offering Natchez &8212; and the state &8212; a concrete proposal, not a pipe dream. And Southwest Mississippi deserves an opportunity to improve its economy.

Our leaders are not headed to Jackson Tuesday with hat in hand and head bowed. We have a solid project from a committed company that can help turn our community around.

A lot of people are willing to go to bat for this bill. The Senate Finance Committee needs to listen.