Vicksburg Daily News –
VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said long awaited jobs are coming back to the city.
In a press release Saturday, Nov. 14, Gibson said the economy is on the rise.
“For too many years, one of the saddest realities facing Natchez was watching our young people grow up, graduate from high school or college, and leave home to find a good job,” said Gibson. “Parents and grandparents would celebrate their accomplishments, but often with the bittersweet realization that their children and grandchildren might never return home to live and work.”
The mayor said his has long believed that aspect could change for Natchez.
In a recent State of the City address, Gibson said after approximately forty years of population decline, Natchez is growing again, and cited job availability as one of the contributing factors for the population increase.
“When we launched our Natchez Renewal in 2020, economic development was among our highest priorities. We understood that a community cannot prosper without opportunities for its people. We needed to attract new employers, support existing businesses, encourage entrepreneurs, and create an environment where investment would flourish,” said Gibson. “And that’s exactly what we’ve been doing.”
According to the mayor, since 2020, over 500 new business ventures have been launched in Natchez.
“I applaud these brave souls who have taken a chance on our city, investing their dreams, resources, and hard work in our future. Together, they are making a historic difference in our community,” Mayor Gibson explained.
During the same period, building permits have represented more than $133 million in construction and improvements for the city.
“Through the growth of existing employers and the addition of new businesses and industries, more than 1,200 new jobs have been created in Natchez since 2020. And that doesn’t even begin to count the many additional entrepreneurial and contracting opportunities being generated throughout our community, creating income, supporting families, and strengthening our local economy,” he said.
Gibson said to consider the growth and investment represented by Jordan Carriers, Loss Prevention Services, Phibro, Delta Fuel, Bishopric Industries, Winnwood Forest Products, Kaiser Petroleum, Marcal Paper, and others. When adding these to the exciting prospects of new industrial developments, and it’s clear that Natchez is gaining economic momentum.
Additionally, Gibson said retail growth has been substantial.
“New national retailers, expanding shopping opportunities, and the continued revitalization of downtown are strengthening Natchez as a regional shopping destination. Our vision of Natchez as the Retail Hub of our region is becoming reality, and I’ll share much more about that in a future column,” he said.
However, tourism remains the number one industry for the city, generating more than $200 million in annual economic impact. This has resulted in more 1400 local jobs and approximately $3.7 million in taxes for the local economy.
“From our historic attractions and hospitality businesses to river cruises, restaurants, festivals, and special events, tourism continues to support jobs and introduce thousands of visitors to the beauty and charm of Natchez,” said Gibson.
But according to the mayor, creating jobs is only part of the equation.
“We must also prepare our people to fill them. That’s why our award-winning Workforce Development initiative is so important. Through partnerships and free vocational training, we’re helping connect local residents with opportunities for meaningful employment. I’ll be highlighting this exciting initiative in a coming column as well,” he said.
Gison stressed each job represents more than a monetary amount.
“Every new job represents something personal: a paycheck, a mortgage payment, groceries on the table, a college education, and a family with greater financial security. And every successful business strengthens our community, contributing to the tax base that helps support our streets, public safety, parks, and other essential services,” said the mayor.
“Of course, our work is far from finished. We still have families struggling to make ends meet, employers searching for qualified workers, and a growing need for housing. That’s why our strategy remains simple: Create the jobs, Prepare the people, Build the housing,” he said. “For generations, Natchez was a place many young people felt they had to leave to find opportunity. Our goal is to make it a place they can proudly choose to stay, or someday come home.”
The mayor said each day the city gets closer to its goals.
“We’re not there yet. But we’re getting closer every day. Because Natchez deserves more,” said Gibson.
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