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NATCHEZ — The Natchez Mayor and Board of Aldermen approved applying for a government loan to finance a portion of the cost of a new pumper fire truck.

The new truck will be used to serve residents of the City of Natchez and residents of Adams County. The city’s fire department contracts with Adams County to provide fire services in the county.

The CAP loan program — Capital Improvement Revolving Loan Program — will allow the city to finance a portion of the cost of the truck over 10 years at a 2 percent interest rate.

The total cost of the truck is $677,450. The City of Natchez has $150,000 in its 2023-2024 budget to help pay for the truck. Through the cooperation with the Adams County Board of Supervisors, the purchase of the truck also has received preliminary approval for a $90,000 Rural Firetruck Acquisition Assistant Program Grant.

The city expects to need to finance only $437,450 through the CAP loan program.

“We are grateful, especially to our friends on the Board of Supervisors, our Fire Chief Robert Arrington and Alderman Ben Davis, who is chairman of our fire committee, who did not rest until we got this done,” Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson said. “Thanks also to our City Clerk Megan McKenzie for her hard work and to Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney for helping us with this $90,000 grant.”