NATCHEZ &8212; The stroke of a pen at about 9:40 a.m. today will make it official &8212; Mississippi will commit $15 million to the Rentech Inc. project in Natchez.

Gov. Haley Barbour will sign the bill to authorize the money, one of several &8220;ceremonial signings&8221; today his spokesman Pete Smith said Thursday.

For Natchez, the project moves a step closer to fruition, and Darryl Grennell, for one, will be there to see it happen.

&8220;I&8217;m so happy it will be official,&8221; said Grennell, president of the Adams County Board of Supervisors. &8220;We&8217;re ready in Adams County.&8221;

The request for $15 million for site work at the former Belwood Country Club property near the Natchez port had a rocky ride in the state Legislature but finally was approved by both houses during the final days of the 2006 Session.

Natchez Mayor Phillip West said Rentech will have a great economic impact on the area.

&8220;Rentech will be a tremendous asset to our city for many, many years to come,&8221; he said. &8220;It will enhance our overall growth and economic development by supplying much needed quality jobs for the people in our area.&8221;

West said many people are due credit and thanks for getting the project to its present stage, including the governor and other state officials, especially the legislative delegation representing Southwest Mississippi.

Grennell agreed. &8220;I think it&8217;s important for me to be there (at the signing) on behalf of the residents of Adams County to personally express our gratitude to the governor and his staff for the support they&8217;ve given us on this Rentech project,&8221; Grennell said.

Woody Allen, chairman of the Natchez-Adams County Economic Development Authority, said the governor&8217;s signing is a positive step.

&8220;This is the last piece of the puzzle until the Rentech folks come through,&8221; Allen said. &8220;It&8217;s a long process with a lot of steps, but we&8217;re well ahead of schedule.&8221;

West said he is grateful that Rentech chose Natchez-Adams County. &8220;We look forward to working with them to bring this much needed alternate fuel source to our area and nation. We are extremely proud to be a part of this environmentally friendly initiative.&8221;