NATCHEZ — A $250 check has kept Natchez from becoming a 2009 accredited Main Street community.

A shift of directors within the Natchez Downtown Development Association, and a lack of an invoice, is more than likely the reason behind lack of payment, an official said.

The Mississippi Main Street Association, a part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is responsible for the designation.

To be part a Main Street community the four prongs of MMSA must be fulfilled — promotion, design, organization and economic restructuring — through a checklist which includes sending in reports, having an active downtown development board and more.

“Natchez had done every one,” MMSA Executive Director Bob Wilson said.

The only thing that was missing was a small portion of annual fees to the program.

Each year, Natchez, a member for more than four years — pays $2,000 in annual dues.

An additional $250 is paid for the National Main Street Network Membership program, and that is what the city is missing.

The deadline for that amount of money to be paid to be considered an active and accredited member was in February, Wilson said.

“They were going through all gyrations at that point,” he said of the Natchez Downtown Development Association, which is responsible for the membership.

In March, Carrie Lambert vacated the position of NDDA director.

After that, Barbara Lomasney was the interim director.

Wilson said he spoke with Historic Natchez Foundation Executive Director Mimi Miller, who has an ad hoc position on the NDDA board, about the fee.

She is currently working on finding the check and sending it in.

Wilson said the Main Street Center does not send invoices for this fee, so it’s highly likely the need for its payment was lost in a transition.

And as soon as the check is sent in, Natchez will be accredited.

“For all intents and purposes, as far as we’re concerned, they’re accredited. (Natchez) just has to get that individual network membership paid,” Wilson said.

The check was sent by downtown development this week after officials realized the designation’s hold up.

Wilson said being a Main Street community means Natchez can network with other communities.

“The benefits are endless,” he said. “It’s one of the best networking things I’ve ever seen.”

Main Street community activities are posted on the Web site, along with downtown development contacts, so cities can tap into that as a resource for new ideas.

“There is no competition, so they’re very willing to share their ideas, missteps, artwork, press releases,” he said. “It’s a wonderful resource for a main street manager.”

Wilson also said in the current economic climate, tourists are traveling closer to home and being listed on the Mississippi Main Street Association and the Main Street Center’s Web site is helpful.

“People will travel from one Main Street community to another,” he said.