NATCHEZ &045; As local real estate agents begin to help Katrina’s evacuees find rental property or permanent housing here, area officials are opening their doors to businesses that have been displaced.

&uot;People need to keep their businesses running,&uot; said Brett Brinegar, Natchez’s grants coordinator. &uot;That’s a humanitarian concern. We’re opening our doors to the businesses affected.&uot;

The Natchez-Adams County Economic Development Authority will be the point of contact for businesses that might need available office or industrial space in the area, Mayor Phillip West said.

Late Friday, officials met to discuss how the city, county and EDA can work together to get information out to businesses that might need help.

&uot;How do we identify marketing ourselves in a short period of time to get something positive from this,&uot; West said.

EDA Director Woody Allen said the Adams County Port has already had inquiries about using its facilities.

Just under three hours from New Orleans, Natchez might be a good location for businesses to relocate, Allen said.

Available industrial property includes 14 buildings that range from 45,000 to 50,000 square feet, while there are 51 commercial sites for office space or small businesses.

Allen said the city and county do not own all of that property but could help facilitate communication between interested businesses and property owners.

The storm’s destruction on the coast and the ensuing floods in New Orleans have left many people &045; not just residents but also business owners &045; looking for a place to go, Allen said.

&uot;It’s like taking a deck of cards and throwing them up into the air,&uot; he said. &uot;Another way to help people is to try to get their businesses up and running.&uot;

The chamber of commerce has already been fielding calls from businesses, and local Realtors said they have also had inquiries about office space.