NATCHEZ &8212; The Convention and Visitors Bureau needs to raise $27,000 to fund a three-month ad campaign telling 17 Deep South metro markets that despite Katrina, Natchez is open for tourists.

The rest of that amount will be covered by a $50,000 state grant, commitments from local businesses and a contribution from the CVB&8217;s budget. A Nov. 30 concert at Different Accents will also donate half of its profits to the effort.

The radio and TV campaign &8220;will simply say Natchez is a tank, a tank-and-a-half of gas away from where you are&8221; and has the historic sites, shopping and other attractions tourists are looking for, said CVB media liaison Sally Durkin.

Also during the Convention Promotion Commission&8217;s Wednesday meeting, the commission voted to proceed with a $37,000 radio ad buy as part of that effort, using part of the funds that are already available.

For more information, call Durkin at (601) 445-6345. She will also make a PowerPoint presentation at Tuesday&8217;s aldermen meeting, set for 6 p.m. at the council chambers on Pearl Street.

In other business, commissioners and CVB staff said they want to put together another PowerPoint presentation to show community and church groups the economic impact of tourism.