NATCHEZ, Miss. – The Board of Aldermen is applying for state funds to upgrade a road for an unnamed industrial prospect interested in locating in Natchez.
After closing the public out of its meeting Tuesday to discuss this, the board voted in open session to seek a grant for “the improvement of a road necessary for bringing a new employer to Natchez,” said Mayor Dan Gibson.
Before the closed-door meeting, Gibson said the industrial prospect wants to remain confidential until a decision is made to establish a business in Natchez.
This comes a month after the mayor traveled to Atlanta to meet with what he described in February as “international investors” interested in “technology” that could “possibly lead to some industry” in Natchez. He said the investors were planning to visit Natchez in April.
Aldermen on Tuesday agreed to ask the Mississippi Development Authority to give Natchez money for upgrading a road that wasn’t identified during the meeting’s open session. Gibson did say the grant application is to MDA’s Development Infrastructure Grant Program, which provides funds to local governments as incentives for new or expanding industries. The state economic development program does limit grants to $150,000 per project, according to an MDA report.
Gibson said he also traveled to Savannah in February to meet with local officials there, including Mayor Van Johnson and representatives of the Savannah College of Art and Design. He said SCAD “brought new life to Savannah” since its 1979 inception, and he indicated he’s getting ideas from them on how to bring new life to Natchez. He said more meetings are in store that include movie producers Tate Taylor and John Norris, who are redeveloping the Natchez bluff area as an entertainment district with restaurants, bars, music venues and a movie studio.
While visiting Savannah, Gibson said he was also impressed by the many restaurants offering outdoor dining. With the COVID pandemic making indoor dining less appealing, “the more outdoor seating, the better,” Gibson said.
The mayor said Natchez should relax regulations on outdoor dining and allow restaurants to take up street parking spaces for seating their patrons. More streetside dining “could add a great vibe to downtown.” Gibson said.
He noted Taylor and Norris’ plans for the Natchez bluff area are incorporating more outdoor dining, as is Main Street restaurant owner Fred Kent. Kent has sought the city’s permission for The Kitchen Bistro to set up outdoor dining space at the front of the restaurant.
While this expansion would take up some Main Street parking spots, Gibson said he sees outdoor dining options “as being great for Natchez. Let’s all keep an open mind about this.”
Noting how COVID has hurt the business, Kent told city officials last month that outdoor-dining accommodations are essential to encourage more people to eat out and help restaurants survive.
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