NATCHEZ, Miss. — The city of Natchez wants you.
And as part of its “Shift South” program, the Mississippi locale will shell out $6,000 to certain people who relocate to its little corner of the Magnolia state.
Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson confirmed to WAPT that the program initially had 30 slots available when it launched in October, but 10 spots have already been claimed.
“Natchez sells itself. Where else can anyone live in a place with a view of the river and a safe place to live? We have a lot of unity and harmony here in Natchez, and we have beautiful homes here, and you can buy a beautiful home here for $150,000,” Gibson told the outlet.
Specifically, “Shift South” targets people working remotely who are willing to buy a home within the city limits valued at at least $150,000 and willing to live in the city for at least one year.
The $6,000 incentive figure was settled upon because it would cover an estimated $2,500 in relocation costs plus provide a $300 monthly stipend for 12 months, WAPT reported.
Natchez Inc., the city’s economic development arm, estimated the city will see a return on its investment within a 12- to 18-month timeframe through property tax and sales tax revenues, The Natchez Democrat reported.
“We will explore all of those inquiries fully and vet them out,” Natchez Inc. Executive Director Chandler Russ told the newspaper, following a flurry of national and international media coverage of the program in the past few days. “It has been a wonderful and busy couple of days fielding calls and emails regarding the program. It’s good to see that there is a significant number of people interested.”
Cox Media Group
