Thursday evening, October 1 at 5:30 pm, we will gather on the front lawn of City Hall for our sixth annual State of the City address. I hope you will join us! This year’s address will be significant, its focus being on one keyword: JOBS.
When we began our Natchez Renewal during the midst of the covid pandemic in 2020, we set out to build a safer, stronger and more beautiful city with greater opportunity for everyone who calls Natchez home. Now in our seventh year, we can truly say, working together, we have made tremendous progress. We have worked to fight crime and support those who protect us. We have invested in infrastructure that our citizens depend on every day. We have brought new life to our parks, public buildings and even embarked upon major resurfacing projects to numerous streets.
Look around, it’s easy to see that progress. It’s also quite something to see so many new businesses opening and new jobs being created – we’ve lost count of all the ribbon cuttings, each one representing someone willing to invest in Natchez with faith in our future. That alone is worth celebrating.
But this is no time for slowing down.
Now in the second half of our second term, the work before us calls for the same determination that has brought us this far. For the first time in forty years, Natchez is growing. But a growing economy does not happen by accident – it takes planning, partnerships and a willingness to pursue every good opportunity for our city. Our citizens and the future of our children depend upon it.
Thursday evening we will discuss the importance of supporting businesses already here and the work necessary to recruit new ones, all the while continuing to train a workforce capable and prepared to compete for good jobs. We will discuss why public safety is vital to growth, and how prioritizing quality of life goes hand-in-hand with efficiently delivering essential services without raising taxes. We will discuss what defines a city as a place where people want to live and where families choose to stay.
Looking forward, we must ensure also that Natchez is included in the historic economic growth happening in other parts of our state. As a city, we must be ready to claim our place in what comes next. Natchez has the people, the location, the history and the determination to be part of our state’s continued success.
It’s about our families – and our children. I want parents to know that their children can build good lives here. And I want every person who is ready to work to have a fair chance at a job that helps them provide for their family.
So remember – the keyword is JOBS. And I do hope to see you Thursday as we celebrate how far we have come, speak plainly about the work ahead and look together at the opportunities before us. Our Natchez Renewal is moving forward, and every one of us has a part to play in its next chapter. Because Natchez Deserves More.
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