Photo by Taylor Cooley
Kevin Miers
Downtown Director
director@NatchezDNA.org
(601) 392-6915
Meet the Downtown Director
Kevin Miers, a veteran of Downtown Natchez’s business community, is director of the Downtown Natchez Alliance (DNA). He leads the organization’s administrative, programmatic, and downtown revitalization efforts in collaboration with the city and other downtown-centric organizations. Miers brings a valuable skill set to his work as a downtown development professional, including his first-hand understanding of downtown’s ecosystem, a background in engineering and management, and proven leadership and project planning skills. Miers is also a founding board member of the Downtown Natchez Alliance, incorporated in 2019.
A native of DeRidder, LA, Miers moved to Natchez in 2001, after completing his B.S. in chemical engineering at LSU, to take a position with International Paper Company. In 2005, a hobby turned into a business, and he opened his design and upholstery shop in Downtown Natchez. His restored pieces occupy homes across the Miss-Lou. In 2024, Miers left his management position at Marcal Manufacturing (formerly von Drehle) to take on the director role at the Downtown Natchez Alliance.
“Kevin has been engaged in downtown revitalization for 20 years. He was a major player in establishing the Downtown Natchez Alliance, and he knows all the parts and pieces of the Main Street Approach. He has built great relationships with city and county government, our local leadership community, and our downtown stakeholders.”
–Dan M. Gibson
Mayor, The Historic City of Natchez
Downtown: It’s In His DNA
Miers has been a resident of Downtown Natchez for over 20 years and a downtown business owner for most of that time. He first became involved in downtown development and Mississippi Main Street in 2005 when he opened an upholstery and design shop downtown. He volunteered for Natchez’s first local Main Street entity and eventually served as a board member for that organization in 2006 and 2007. During this time, Miers chaired the Downtown Natchez Art & Soul Festival, and he was heavily involved with “Christmas in Natchez,” which has grown into a high-impact regional event.
Kevin Miers participating in the Downtown Master Plan Community Charette on July 6, 2017.
Downtown Master Plan & Downtown Merchant Group
In 2016, when the city began work on the Downtown Master Plan project, Miers participated through community charettes and other planning workshops. He helped organize the Downtown Merchant Group, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, to keep downtown merchants united, organized, engaged, and informed while the master plan was underway. The group supplied ongoing feedback and direction to the planning consultants. Miers participated on the wayfinding committee, the public art committee, and the windows and plywood committee.
“Center City” Arts District Streetscape Project
In 2019, Miers spearheaded a streetscape project in the 100 block of North Commerce Street to create tree wells for the block. He raised money, collaborated with the city and public works department, and recruited 25 volunteers who showed up with trucks and shovels. After two days of work was completed in one, Miers followed up by pressure washing the sidewalks himself. The transformation was instantaneous. Since then, despite two years of COVID, 10 buildings in that block have been sold (including the historic Ritz Theater), eight renovations have been completed or are underway, and six new businesses have opened with more on the way.
Volunteers planting trees along the 100 Block of North Commerce Street for the Arts District/North Commerce Street Tree Planting Project.
November 15, 2019: Kevin Miers with trees purchased for the Arts District/North Commerce Street Tree Planting Project, which he spearheaded.
Volunteers planting trees along the 100 Block of North Commerce Street for the Arts District/North Commerce Street Tree Planting Project.
Kevin Miers at work pressure washing sidewalks in the 100 block of N. Commerce.
Kevin Miers with Sophie Nord, granddaughter of Sallie Junkin Ballard, presenting Kevin as a 2023 Keep Natching Blooming Honoree.
DNA Steering Committee
After the city officially adopted the Downtown Master Plan in 2018, Miers worked on the steering committee to organize a new downtown organization, which became DNA. He helped write bylaws; created an organizational structure based on the Main Street Approach; and recruited volunteers for the yet-to-be formed, unnamed organization, which was incorporated at the end of 2019 just as COVID was turning everything upside down. Miers then served on DNA’s Board of Directors until 2023.
Recognition
Miers has been recognized for his downtown leadership efforts. He received a Special Merit Award for the North Commerce Street project from the Historic Natchez Foundation (2019) and DNA’s “Sallie Junkin Ballard Keep Natchez Blooming Award” (2023).