NATCHEZ, Miss. – The city is strongly positioned to thrive onward despite the political division that’s “tearing this country apart” and the “naysayers” who doubt Natchez’ economy is actually growing.
Those are the words of Mayor Dan Gibson, who delivered his annual “State of the City” address Tuesday.
“The Natchez Renewal is not stopping, but we may have to turn on the steam engine and go upstream,” said Gibson, evoking the refrain he’s recited since becoming mayor in 2020 and the steamboat Natchez that chugged Monday by the city going upstream against the river’s current.
“We may have to be going upstream, but we’re playing that calliope and we’re not slowing down.”
The mayor cited various economic and municipal improvements he credited to his five-year administration he predicted will be surpassed during his second term, which began in 2024.
The city’s next two years will see major commercial developments to bring more businesses, jobs, people and money to Natchez, according to the mayor’s forecast. He pointed to the Hobby Lobby store being built at Trace Town and the construction of new stores being planned for the now-largely vacant shopping center at Seargent Prentiss Drive by Merit Health hospital.
He also expressed confidence Natchez will have another shopping center built near Walmart on city-owned land that developers have an option to buy for well-known stores appealing to Natchez shoppers.
“You think you’re excited about Hobby Lobby and you will be excited about Trace Town, but wait until you hear the names announced at the other development. You will really get excited then,” Gibson said.
He also said the long-delayed renovation and reopening of the now-closed Eola hotel will become reality in 2027 – just in time to mark the 100th year of the hotel’s construction. Downtown Natchez’ structural centerpiece has been closed since 2014 as developers struggled to finance its refurbishment, but plans are advancing for it to be branded a Marriott-affiliated hotel.
Gibson acknowledged Natchez faces problems, such as the current slump in sales tax collections as the city begins its new fiscal year today. He also pointed to “fake news” spread about Natchez by a “minority of voices – yet they are very loud.”
“But we are a city that has overcome every challenge…and we will overcome this,” he said.
“Let’s not give any power to the naysayers…. This is our time to shine.”
Gibson delivered his 35-minute address – without notes or a teleprompter – with eloquence and evangelical flourishes in front of City Hall to a crowd of onlookers he gathered into a hand-holding prayer to end his speech. It can be viewed at: www.facebook.com/ListenUpYallcom/
“The mayor cited various economic and municipal improvements he credited to his five-year administration he predicted will be surpassed during his second term, which began in 2024.”
Since you faithfully delivered the mayor’s address for him, what were the various economic and municipal improvements the mayor credited himself for? I would love to hear about them, because I don’t see anything he has done in the last 5 years.