NATCHEZ — The Adams County Board of Supervisors approved Wednesday a request to file a pre-agreement that will allow a quick start to construction on an Adams County site related to prospect company Genesis Energy.

Planner Allen Laird with the Southwest Planning and Development District brought the request to the supervisors. The pre-agreement will allow construction to start on the site as soon as it receives clearance from environmental regulators.

While the county has been advertising drainage and environmental studies and the intention to take out a $1 million economic development rail improvement loan related to the project, no official announcement about its exact nature has been made.

Laird said SWPDD’s function in the project was in its normal capacity as the county’s grant writing agency.

“We are assisting the county in applying for a rail loan and a (community development block grant) to put a little rail spur next to (Genesis’) facility so they can offload and onload product,” Laird said.

Natchez Inc. Executive Director Chandler Russ said the behind-the-scenes work on the project has intensified in recent weeks, and some kind of announcement can be expected soon.

“We are almost to final ink with everything, and so all of the remaining details will flesh out shortly,” Russ said.

“We anticipate coming to terms with the client, and we are staying in front of that so we don’t lose any time regarding the CDBG and loan applications.

“I want to commend the supervisors for staying in front of the ball here and not losing any time.”

The project’s information packet has been submitted to the Mississippi Development Authority, Laird said, and if it is approved the MDA will invite a full grant application.

Russ said that in the instances of the loan and the grant funds, the county will be covered from liability.