Bob Wilson, Deputy Director of the Mississippi Mainstreet Association will speak at the Natchez Convention Center at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow in the St. Louis Room.

The mission of the Mississippi Main Street Association is to administer Mississippi Main Street Programs, and to provide communities throughout the state with information and services to assist them in accomplishing their downtown development and revitalization goals.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation established the National Main Street Center in 1980 to provide support and to encourage the revitalization of Main Streets across America, based on historic preservation and sound business practices.

To date, 48 states and over 2,800 communities participate in the Main Street program nationwide.

What began as a historic preservation program has evolved into one of the largest economic development programs in the United States.

The Mississippi Main Street Association, a private, non-profit organization, contracted with the Mississippi Development Authority in 1989 to administer the Main Street Program, and to direct the revitalization efforts of downtowns and surrounding neighborhoods throughout Mississippi’s cities and towns.

The Natchez version of Mississippi Main Street is the Natchez Downtown Development Association, which is comprised of businesses that are located in the downtown area.

Mr. Wilson will be addressing the concerns of retailers in the Natchez downtown shopping area, and update them on what the MMSA is doing currently to assist businesses across the state.

Throughout his talk, Mr. Wilson will provide information on how business owners can utilize the Association’s expertise, resources, and technical assistance in order to help retailers better market their products and services to today’s shoppers.

The public is invited to attend and business owners in the downtown area, regardless if you are an NDDA member or not, are encouraged to attend.

There will be a question and answer session following the presentation, and members of the NDDA board with meet privately with Mr. Wilson to discuss current projects and what can be done to enhance them.

Please make plans to attend this important event.

Sally B. Durkin is media liaison with the Natchez Convention & Visitors Bureau