From 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday The Possibilities Tour: Turning Deserted Spaces into Dynamic Places, will highlight available properties in Downtown Natchez and Vidalia.

This free event encourages the public to view great spaces that are typically kept behind closed doors throughout the year.  This year’s tour will showcase 12 vacant commercial properties that are available for sale or lease to new or existing businesses, residences or investments.  Tour maps can be picked up at either Natchez Inc. (100 S. Pearl St.) or the Vidalia Technology Center (101 N. Spruce St.) the day of the tour.  The first 100 attendees to pick up their map from either location will receive a FREE Small Business Saturday® tote bag.

Added features of this year’s tour include Entrepreneur Academy successes, past Possibility Tour properties, and regional creative entrepreneurs.   Since 2012, over 100 current or emerging small business owners have participated in the Entrepreneur Academy, and several of them will be showcased with a listing on the Possibilities Tour map.  From retail shops to restaurants, we have watched many great business ideas flourish into successful business realities!  Stop by their shop and inquire about their participation in the Entrepreneur Academy.

Twenty-five total properties have been featured throughout the past three years of Possibilities Tours.  Many of these buildings now house thriving businesses.  During this year’s tour, participants will have a chance to see how these business owners have truly taken “deserted spaces” and turned them into “dynamic places,” as they, too, will be listed on the tour map for you to visit.

To top off the tour, many properties will feature a regional creative entrepreneur.  We hope you will utilize the talents of our entrepreneurs to kick off your Christmas shopping in the Miss Lou!

We purposefully plan this event to coincide with the Chili Cook Off, Second Saturday, Angels on the Bluff, Art on the Bluff and Junior Auxiliary Holiday Bazaar.   While you are exploring one of these local events we hope you come by to see what our “Deserted Spaces” have in store for you and your business.

Natchez Inc., Alcorn State University, area realtors and property owners have continued to host this successful event each year.  We offer thanks and appreciation to our partners because without these long-standing partnerships, this event would not be a reality.
Aimee Guido is Communications Manager of Natchez Inc. and a lifelong resident of Natchez.