As Natchez completes its transition to a tourism economy, the health and vitality of its downtown becomes increasingly important.

Every tourist, conventioneer or person considering locating a business here spends time downtown. The more activity they see and the more opportunities they have to shop, eat and relax, the better their opinions of Natchez will be.

Prior to the July 4 holiday, the Natchez Downtown Development Association encouraged downtown business owners to remain open so that visitors had things to do. We supported those who opened by sponsoring a drawing for $150 of gasoline, which could be entered only on the holiday in the open businesses.

NDDA also ran advertising in The Democrat letting both local residents and visitors know which businesses would be open on the Fourth. Natchez First Radio Group contributed promotional announcements saying “Downtown is open for business.”

We were pleased that about 20 businesses opened that day. The drawing was won by a tourist from Louisiana who vowed she would return for future getaway weekends.

Also gratifying was that many local residents came downtown to shop and to eat. It was clear that quite a few had come specifically to support the advertised effort to encourage businesses to open. These folks recognized the importance of an active downtown, and they spent money to help the businesses have a successful day.

Now Labor Day is upon us, and NDDA will again advertise the businesses that choose to open and will sponsor another gasoline giveaway. It looks as if we will have more open businesses than we did on July 4.

We want to thank those business owners who are opening on the holiday. Most are uncertain about how well they will do. But they understand that if we want tourists to visit Natchez, they need to be confident that shopping and dining opportunities are available.

One piece of good news is that the Delta Queen will be docked here all of Labor Day in one of its last-ever visits.

I hope we will also see local residents downtown. Their part in this equation is vitally important.

With more than 300 new hotel rooms coming online within the next year, along with the opening of the federal courthouse, the tourism industry here is poised for significant growth. NDDA appreciates the contributions of everyone who is working to see that we make the most of our opportunities.

On Labor Day, downtown will be open for business. Please join us there.

Bill Furlow is president of the Natchez Downtown Development Association and co-owner of Natchez Coffee Co.