NATCHEZ, Miss. — City officials are seeking state funds to help accommodate a new business planning to locate in downtown Natchez and bring 200 jobs.
The yet-to-be-announced company is code-named “Project Silver” and plans to locate in the Franklin Street area where the old A&P grocery store and Regions Bank were, said Chandler Russ, the city’s chief business recruiter.
Russ said Project Silver’s city redevelopment plans include tearing down the A&P building and upgrading the nearby parking lot by the former bank building. He got the Natchez Board of Aldermen on Tuesday to approve applying for a grant from the Mississippi Development Authority for $260,000 to help pay for this. He said MDA has already committed to provide what he described is money from the state’s Development Infrastructure Grant Program. DIP grants go to cities for structural or land improvements to attract new businesses.
As is the normal practice for industrial prospects not ready to publicize their plans, Russ did not divulge many details at Tuesday’s city board meeting about Project Silver other than to say where it would be and the 200 people it would employ. Russ is executive director of Natchez Inc., the economic development agency for Natchez and Adams County.
Another Natchez development that’s further along is what movie producers Tate Taylor and John Norris have in the works for the city-owned Broadway Street train depot and river bluff area. A new eatery is to be in the former train station, which the Taylor-Norris plans call a “culinary hub” directed by accomplished chefs Nick Wallace of Mississippi and Ashley Allen of the Virgin Islands.
While the COVID-19-induced economic recession has slowed their plans, Taylor and Norris told city officials Tuesday that they’re now moving forward.
They’re leasing the depot from the city and have plans for further enhancing the bluff area with public restrooms, a music stage, outdoor movie screen, an ornate water fountain and a children’s play area. Their plans have also included reopening the once-popular Smoot’s Grocery music bar and former Steampunk coffee pub on Broadway and High streets.
Taylor and Norris filmed the movie “Breaking News in Yuba County” last year in Natchez and have more movie-making plans for the area. Taylor noted Tuesday their ventures create more jobs for Natchez and bring more visitors. He and Norris have an antebellum home in the nearby Church Hill community.
While the coronavirus has sickened millions of people around the world and crippled the economy, Norris expressed optimism a recovery will ensure their plans can be realized. “After Covid goes away, … we’re all coming back,” he said.
The Covid recovery could prompt a new way of working for many people: from home. An incentive Russ is promoting for further developing Natchez’ economy calls for giving money to people as a lure to move to the city and work remotely. He said there’s a “huge opportunity” to attract workers who do their jobs at home and don’t want to live in large cities. Russ asked the Board of Aldermen to consider giving $6,000 to each new Natchez resident who buys a house and commits to living in the city. The property and sales taxes a new resident would pay, he said, exceeds the $6,000 aldermen would fund. Mayor Dan Gibson said the board will
consider this as it prepares the city budget for the upcoming year.
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Two Natchez department heads announced Tuesday they’re resigning. Jennifer Ogden Combs said she’ll be leaving her post next month as executive director of Visit Natchez, the city’s tourism and convention promotion agency. Natchez Fire Department Chief Ventris Green said he’s also resigning in September.
Combs has been Visit Natchez’ executive director since 2016. Green has been Natchez fire chief since 2018.
New Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson took office in July, but Combs noted she had already planned to resign earlier this year. She said she postponed that as the COVID-19 crisis began to overwhelm the world. Combs said Visit Natchez director of sales Lynsey Smith will serve as interim executive director while city officials seek someone to appoint on a permanent basis.
Green said he’s resigning as he moves on to a “different business venture.” He’s a 22-year NFD veteran. With Green’s retirement catching some aldermen by surprise Tuesday, Mayor Dan Gibson said no decision had been made on who’ll be interim fire chief while a new chief is sought.
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