NATCHEZ, Miss. – Mayor Dan Gibson used his annual State of the City address Monday to highlight the accomplishments of his administration and thank the people helping fulfill what he calls the “Natchez Renewal.”
As Gibson enters the fourth year of his term and prepares for his 2024 re-election bid, the mayor said he aspires for more jobs, businesses, tourism, health-care services, infrastructure and other improvements being sought for the city of about 14,000 residents.
“The year ahead is going to be the most important year of this four-year term. We have so much to celebrate in what we have accomplished, but we also still have so much to do,” he said. “It is time for us to finish strong. Our race is not over.”
Since he took office in July 2020, Gibson said, more than 1,000 new jobs have been created by Natchez-Adams County’s growing economy. It’s generated about $8 million more in revenues for the city treasury than three years ago – without a tax increase.
When Gibson was elected mayor, Natchez and the world were gripped by the COVID pandemic that sickened people and the economy.
During the post-COVID recovery, the city has embarked on multimillion-dollar projects with the help of federal, state and local funds along with bond issues.
Gibson pointed to the $6 million repaving of at least 45 Natchez streets starting in August and $5 million worth of improvements for the Natchez Convention Center and City Auditorium that could be under construction by year’s end. These are being funded by the city borrowing money through bonds.
He expressed confidence that several long-stalled Natchez developments will happen. They include the restoration and reopening of the Eola hotel, the renovation of the Broadway Street train depot and the return of commercial passenger air service at the Natchez-Adams County Airport.
Gibson said the city’s crime rate has decreased by 40 percent from five years ago. (Natchez reported 946 violent crimes and thefts in 2018.)
He expressed appreciation to various people and groups for their support and efforts in keeping Natchez “humming.”
“Our Natchez Renewal is happening all because of you,” he said in his hour-long address delivered at a sparsely crowded City Auditorium and live streamed on Facebook and YouTube.
Gibson especially credited the Natchez Board of Aldermen: Valencia Hall, Billie Joe Frazier, Sarah Carter Smith, Felicia Irving, Ben Davis and Curtis Moroney.
“We may not always agree, but we always manage to come forward with a solid majority for the good of Natchez moving this Natchez Renewal forward,” Gibson said.
The mayor’s 2023 State of the City address can be replayed on Natchez’ Facebook and YouTube pages:
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