We are pleased the Warren County Board of Supervisors has come on board with the work Pablo Diaz, the city of Vicksburg, the Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Foundation and the Port Commission are doing to attract businesses and much needed new jobs to our community.

Now, the county supervisors need to reimburse the city at least half of the $300,000 the city pledged as part of a commitment to the Mississippi Development Authority for its incentives package for Vicksburg Forest Products and Unified Brands.

Even though Unified Brands is not located in the city of Vicksburg, Mayor George Flaggs and Aldermen Alex Monsour and Michael Mayfield didn’t hesitate to provide the needed funding. They understand the importance of new jobs to our community.

However, such was not the answer when Pablo Diaz made the same request to the county’s supervisors, despite the county having the ready available funding to participate.

When the county said no to its portion of the funding, the mayor and aldermen again stepped up to the plate and paid the county’s share. They did so because the local match was a necessary part of the MDA’s incentive package, which enticed Unified Brands to bring its plant here.

The mayor and aldermen saved the day, and Unified Brands is working hard to get its plant up and running, already employing about 25 people. That number should increase quickly as production is moved fully to Vicksburg.

Warren County will reap the benefits brought here by the jobs from Unified Brands and Vicksburg Forest Products, thanks to the $300,000 pledged by the city.

The county’s supervisors say they want to be a partner in the economic development effort. The county should step up to the plate and reimburse the city for its half of the MDA matching funds.

As supervisor Charles Selmon said when he asked his fellow supervisors to make that move, “It’s the right thing to do.”

Indeed, it is.