DNA’s Downtown Unlocked
Where Every Key Leads to Opportunity
Saturday, May 2, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Real Estate Showcase, Community Visioning Walking Tour, and Possibilities Presentation
Discover the Possibilities of Downtown Natchez
Join us for “Downtown Unlocked,” a real estate showcase presented by the Downtown Natchez Alliance. This exclusive event offers a unique opportunity to explore prime commercial, residential, and investment properties in the heart of Downtown Natchez. Engage with local agents, property owners, and lenders, and gain insights into turning the key to your next downtown opportunity.
2026 Featured Speaker
Dr. Rachel Carter, Ph. D. specializes in community and economic development, public policy, tourism, economic impact and market analysis, retail trade, and natural resource policy at the Center for Government & Community Development, Mississippi State University. She is well known as a successful strategic action planner with a special passion for helping communities, industries and organizations take action to create positive economic development.
2024 DNA’s Retail Market Analysis: Real Estate Game Plan
The Game Plan is a package of materials that includes current and projected market data, including demographic trends and retail leakage; and results of the Downtown Visioning Walking Tour and Possibilities Presentation, with recommendations of strategies Downtown Natchez could undertake that would improve the real estate conditions.
Downtown Doorway Real Estate Portal
Explore the Downtown Doorway, our digital portal designed to simplify the search for downtown properties. This beta version offers an integrated platform to find and explore available downtown listings — commercial, residential, and multi-use — for sale or lease, all in an intuitive platform that makes it easy to explore opportunities and envision your future in the heart of Natchez.
Kick Off, Kudos, & Keynote
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Celebrate our success with coffee, pastries, and mimosas, followed by a presentation on fresh market insights from Dr. Rachel Carter of MSU.
- 8:30 am- Registeration
- 9:00 am – Event Kick-Off & Kudos
- 9:30 am – “Unlocking Downtown Business Potential”
Possibilities Tours and Lunch
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Enjoy Restaurants, Shops, Walking Tours, & play Downtown Bingo! * Trolly available for those who need assistance!
- Historic Downtown Walking Tour with Carter Burns from Historic Natchez Foundation
- Economic Opportunity Walking Tour with Dr. Rachel Carter
- Self-Guided Walking Tour; map to be provided
Ask the Experts: Ideas to Action
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Get the information you need for Networking and the solutions to meet your goals fast: Historic Preservation Tax Credits, Zoning, Approval Processes • Opportunity Zones • Downtown Doorway Real Estate Finder • Market Needs Research • New Business Lending & Coaching
- 1:30pm – Rapid-Fire Networking Sessions
- 8:30am – 3:00pm – Exhibitor Information Tables
The fun way to explore Downtown Natchez!
Visit our exhibitors and participating restaurants and merchants with your Bingo Card to win downtown door prizes! Details and Bingo Card coming soon.
• 3:00pm – Bingo Winners Prize Drawing
2026 Sponsors
