NATCHEZ &045;&045; Want to recognize a business you believe sets the standard for service, tidiness and making a difference in the community?

Now’s your chance.

The City of Natchez is seeking to recognize such businesses through its Business of the Month program.

Those selected by the city for the honor will be recognized during the first Board of Aldermen meeting of each month.

Each honoree will receive a certificate of recognition as well as a yard sign or window sign to display during the month the business is honored.

On Tuesday, aldermen honored BellSouth as the first Business of the Month. The company has had a presence in Natchez for 70 years and employs 24 local people.

&uot;We are committed to quality,&uot; said BellSouth representative Kenneth Huff. &uot;We believe the customer rules.&uot;

BellSouth has consistently received superior customer service ratings, said Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith.

In addition, the company donates time and funds to Relay for Life, Tracehaven Nursing Home and Pleasant Acre Day School, among other projects.

Smith presented a framed certificate to Huff, as well as a sign the company will be able to hang in the window of its local headquarters the entire month.

Although the city’s first Business of the Month has been chosen, nominations are being accepted for subsequent months.

The purpose of the program is recognize local business and all they do for the community, Alderman David Massey said.

The city is working with organizations such as the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce and the Natchez Business and Civic League to identify outstanding businesses, Smith said.

However, he said, the city will accept nominations from anyone and will consider any nominee, no matter the business’ size or how long the establishment has been in business.

&uot;We want this to be open to anybody &045;&045; that’s the purpose of it,&uot; Smith said. &uot;We just want to recognize businesses that are doing a good job … and show them how much we appreciate them.&uot;

To nominate a business for Business of the Month, contact the mayor’s office at 445-7555.