Tonight is awards night for community leaders who are members of the Natchez Business and Civic League. The organization will hold its annual awards banquet at 7 p.m. at Tom and Geri’s at 410 Martin Luther King Jr. St. The banquet costs $12.

League President Harden Wallace said the awards are given to help motivate and undergird people in the community.

And league member Rita Winn said people look forward to meeting other business leaders through the banquet. &uot;(The league) really pulls the business community together,&uot; she said.

The Natchez Business and Civic League, originally known as the Negro Business League, has been in Natchez since 1924. Its purpose is to encourage minority businesses, civic pride and minority home ownership.

A selection committee will present four awards Friday: the G.F. West Man of the Year Award, the Woman of the Year Award, the Willie S. Scott Civic Award and the Youth Award.

The Man of the Year Award is named after Natchez’s first black alderman, George F. West. The award is given to the man in the community who has shown outstanding entrepreneurship in the past year. The Woman of the Year Award is given to the female who meets this same criteria.

The Civic Award is given to person who has devoted themselves to non-profit, community work. It is named after Natchez’s first black Justice Court judge. The Youth Award is given to the young person who has worked to uplift Natchez’s youth. This person must maintain good grades and be involved in the community, Winn said.

A fifth award, known as the President’s Award, will be awarded by Wallace.