NATCHEZ — Natchez and Adams County needs a good spruce up and the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce Tourism Council is asking everyone to pitch in.

The committee is asking residents of Adams County to clean up yards, office and store fronts, sidewalks and other areas they pass before July 1.

René Adams, co-chair of the tourism council, said cleanliness and friendliness are two attributes a town can have without spending a lot of money. All both efforts need is commitment from the community, Adams said.

“Cleanliness is one of the number one indicators of community pride,” Adams said. “We need anyone and everyone to clean up what they see needs to be cleaned up.”

Litter pickup, weed trimming and other lawn maintenance are the areas that need the most attention, Adams said.

After spending three days at a workshop hosted by the Mississippi State University Community Action organization, Adams said she learned how much litter can negatively affect a town.

“We listened to lectures from Mississippi Main Street, the Mississippi Development Authority and others from all facets of the state, and they all said any community that is not clean will not be successful,” she said.

With visitors coming to town for the 4th of July holiday on Sunday and the Sadie V. Thompson Era reunion over the weekend, Adams said it is important that everyone pitch in to make sure the area looks its best.

“The first thing people see when they come in to a town is the trash,” she said. “Tourism can take a hit if we don’t show we have pride in our community.”

But Adams said this shouldn’t be a one-time thing. The hope is at the first of each month, community members will take a little bit of time to clean up around themselves. When the weather is more accommodating, Adams said the plan is to organize community cleanup days to target specific areas.

Until then, Adams said it is easy enough for residents to just pick up for themselves.

“We are living in one of the most beautiful cities on the Mississippi River, and we need to be proud of that,” she said. “If everyone can pitch in and clean up their little area, we will be rocking and rolling.”