NATCHEZ, Miss. – The city has been awarded a $100,000 grant to help revitalize downtown Natchez – and more money is expected in future years. The funds are from a state program benefiting 50 Mississippi cities officially designated “Main Street” communities.
Downtown Natchez Alliance Executive Director Mickey Howley said it’s uncertain now what the money will be earmarked for.
“We don’t know the exact particulars of it, but it’s for downtown renewal,” Howley said Tuesday while meeting with Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson and city aldermen.
He did say the funds generally can be used for downtown beautification, business development and job creation. The state program does require the city to put up local funds to help with downtown revitalization projects.
In addition to the $100,000 already granted, Natchez will get another $60,000 next year and can apply for even more, Howley said.
He credited city officials for providing the needed “seed money” and helping get Natchez certified as a “Main Street” town.
The state Legislature passed two bills this year appropriating money for Mississippi’s “Main Street” communities from federal funds the U.S. Congress allocated to states in 2021 to help recover from the economic distress caused by the COVID pandemic.
The Mississippi Main Street Revitalization Grant program will provide funds for downtown renewal projects in the state’s designated “Main Street” communities. The state Legislature will be provided a list of prioritized projects. Grant funds will be available on a competitive basis for eligible projects up to $500,000 per community.
The funds will be funneled through the Downtown Natchez Alliance, a private organization recently created to enhance the city’s business, cultural and residential assets in the historic district spanning from Martin Luther King Street to the bluff area overlooking the Mississippi River.
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The Natchez Board of Aldermen appointed Ron Porter as the city’s interim recreation director while it searches for a permanent replacement for Sanora Cole, who’s resigning after heading the city‘s parks and recreation program for nearly two years.
Cole is leaving Natchez next week to take a job at Southern University in her hometown of Baton Rouge, said Mayor Dan Gibson. While her tenure as Natchez’ recreation director was brief, Gibson said he “applauded her and her great service.”
The city during her tenure has embarked on about $3 million worth of projects, such as installing new playground equipment, upgrading ballfields, adding tennis courts and restoring the Duncan Park golf clubhouse along with the North Natchez Youth Center.
Prior to appointing Porter as Cole’s temporary replacement Tuesday, the board closed the public out of their discussions about his qualifications and experience. He has briefly been the city’s assistant recreation director.
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Natchez continues to struggle with finding funds for repairing the city-owned antebellum house on St. Catherine Street. The Angelety House – which
natchezhistoricalsociety.org
historians say was probably built in the 1850s – has structural problems that make it unusable, according to a representative of the association leasing the building.
It has a leaky roof, mold and other deterioration that need to be remedied, said Clarice Martin of the National Association of 100 Black Women’s local chapter. She pleaded with Gibson and the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday for repairs to be done.
“Obviously, we have some work to do,” said Gibson, who noted the city has applied for outside grants to repair the house.
However, city officials have not been attentive enough to ensure the historic house doesn’t “continue to go to ruin,” said Alderman Felicia Irving.
“We have been dragging our feet about this building,” said Alderman Billie Joe Frazier.
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