By Sarah Cook
The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — After crunching the numbers, the Natchez Convention Center is in the black.

Walter Tipton, convention center manager, shared with the Natchez Board of Alderman Wednesday that the center saw a surplus income of $14,000 in 2013—the last year of available data.

The board met Wednesday in a work session to discuss the convention center after board members wanted to review the agreement the city has with New Orleans Hotel Consultants for several properties including the Natchez Convention Center.

The city allocates $24,000 a month to the center, Tipton explained, and those funds are used for general maintenance.

“Electricity, payroll, gas—that’s where most of our expenses are,” said Tipton, adding that the center currently has 10 employees. “What we’re trying to do is just match our cost to our revenues.”

Through hosting large events—such as the upcoming Natchez Literary and Cinema Festival and the Catfish Farmers of America—Tipton said the convention center draws about 35,000 visitors to Natchez annually. In turn, those visitors spend about $180 a day during their visit.

“Our mission is to bring people to town so they’ll spend money in restaurants, hotels and attractions,” said Tipton, adding that the convention center generates an economic impact close to $9 million a year in terms of tourism.

Dollars spent through tourism, which account for a large bulk of Natchez’s sales tax revenue, in turn pays for the monthly $24,000 allowance for the convention center, Tipton explained.

“It’s like a giant circle,” he said. “That sales tax money comes back to the city’s general fund—and that’s how the city affords the convention center.”

And while several aldermen expressed gratitude for the center’s success, a few members stressed that a high level of transparency needs to be maintained when it comes to budgeting funds for the convention center.

“I think the board should take time to review the terms of the existing contract,” said Ward 5 alderman Mark Fortenbery.

Tipton said the center is available anytime to discuss fund allocations.

“We have nothing but a good story to tell,” Tipton said.