NATCHEZ &045;&045; Donations are coming in to help put Natchez’s downtown Christmas tree back at the corner of Main and Commerce streets, but the effort still needs help.

A group of Natchez business leaders is working to collect money to pay for an artificial tree on the site &045;&045; just in time for Christmas this year.

&uot;If you grew up in Natchez, if you’ve lived any years in Natchez, the downtown tree is something magical that big cities don’t have,&uot; said Agnes Holloway, a Natchez Downtown Development board member who is working with the Christmas tree committee.

The city of Natchez has agreed to put up the money now, on the condition the tree committee reimburse the funds.

The longtime tradition of erecting a live Christmas tree downtown ended last year, when officials decided they couldn’t afford the liability of a live tree in the middle of an intersection. But the artificial tree is more stable &045;&045; and takes less work from corporate sponsor Entergy to put up, Holloway said.

As of this past weekend, the group had raised just more than $5,000. Corporate sponsors include Britton & Koontz, Entergy, Isle of Capri, United Mississippi Bank, AmSouth Bank and Concordia Bank.

Holloway said committee members have challenged each other to raise money at their own businesses &045;&045; $1 at a time.

&uot;If we can get everyone to just give $1, that will be a lot of money,&uot; Holloway said.

Later this month, volunteers will be out at the corner of Main and Commerce, soliciting donations for the tree fund. The board of aldermen has given the group special permission to collect donations at the intersection.

The volunteers will be out from Nov. 23-26.

Donations can also be mailed to NDDA Christmas Tree Fund, 108 S. Commerce St., Natchez, MS 39120.

Holloway said checks can be made out to the Natchez Downtown Development Association.