Natchitoches, Louisiana

Weaving History with a forward-looking focus

Boasting a beautiful streetscape and equally impressive backdrop, this city has a lot to be proud of

Positioned along the banks of the picturesque Cane River in central Louisiana, Natchitoches is a city where history and progress converge. Founded in 1714, this interesting community is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory, and the historical significance is evident in its well-preserved architecture and storied past. Natchitoches exudes a charming, timeless ambiance, drawing visitors with its brick streets, scenic river views, and rich cultural heritage.

Celebrating a Community

The city thrives on its vibrant and welcoming community spirit, supported by robust tourism. Throughout the year the community bursts with a lively calendar of events and festivals that attract visitors from near and far. From Jazz and R&B to the Zydeco and Meat Pie festivals, and celebrations like Juneteenth, there are a plethora of opportunities for locals and visitors to enjoy music and delicious food in the open air. However, the crown jewel of Natchitoches’ festivities is the renowned Christmas Festival. “It’s one of the biggest  in the south,” shares Mayor, Ronnie Williams. “10s of 1000s of people come to town every year for that event.” Natchitoches is also home to the Louisianna Sports Hall of Fame, a tourist attraction, where sports legends like Shaquille O’Neal and Eli Manning have been honored. This year, Drew Brees is set to join the illustrious list of inductees.

Preserving History and Enhancing Downtown

“We’re known for our downtown,” depicts Williams. “It is very beautiful in terms of flowers and how things are landscaped. And we’ve got the river, which is a central part, in terms of the events that we have.”  The city has made significant strides in preserving its historic landmarks while also enhancing the downtown experience for residents and visitors. “We are blessed and fortunate, we really don’t have many vacancies ever,” he boasts, noting that the many Mom and Pop type establishments, such as a candy store, and coffee shops, are supported by the Historical District Business Association, and add vibrancy to the area.

Williams notes that Downtown Natchitoches gained significant attention in the late 1980’s, with the filming of Steel Magnolias, a classic movie starring Julia Roberts and Sally Field, which inspired revitalization of the city core. More recent developments include a $5 million project, completed in 2018, that brought sidewalk improvements, hanging planters, new bollards,  and an amphitheater with plenty of seating. Additionally, a $2 million project restored a historic house near the riverbank, enhancing its appeal as a venue for weddings and other events. Williams acknowledges, “We were just speaking about the need to do a new master plan. The last one was done 25 years ago, and there’s a need for a new one to incorporate the walkability, and some of the wayfaring and lighting as well.”

Infrastructure Improvements

Recent infrastructure projects include upgrades to the city’s water and sewage systems, road repairs, and enhancements to public facilities. “We like to tout that we’re an old city. But what comes with that is aging and old infrastructure,” Williams remarks, sharing that a $17 million water treatment facility is in the works, increasing capacity from 7 to 10 million gallons per day.

Another $17 million project is in the design phase, focusing on sidewalks, drainage improvements, and implementing a bike and pedestrian plan. The city is also budgeting to replace old cast iron waterlines. Williams details. “We don’t have a grant with that yet, but we’re looking to budget for that, a few million dollars every other fiscal year to replace some of those underground pipes.” Additionally, the replacement of a downtown bridge is set to commence in the near future. “It’s financed by the state of Louisiana,” the mayor reports, “It should be coming on in the next one or two years. That’s a major project for us.”

Economic Development and Business Attraction

The city is working to improve and area along the Cane River, known as the Mill District. Williams recounts, “That is an area we’d like to see get developed. It has a brewery now, and we’re looking at trying to entice some other developers to come in there.”

Natchitoches Parish is home to five major employers, referred to by Laura Lyles, Chamber of Commerce President, as “The Big Five.” These include RoyalOMartin, a family owned company specializing in wood products, Trus Joist, manufacturers of joists and beams for homebuilding, and International Paper, who produce packaging products. Within the city itself is Alliance Compressors, who make parts for AC units, and Pilgrim’s Pride, a poultry processing plant. “So those are our major industries. We are open for business,” Williams conveys. He also highlights Northwestern State University, noting, “That’s a major economic driver as well, they’re really important for us. They have a lot of economic impact, and they create jobs for our economy. We certainly want to see them do well.”

He says the city is dedicated to supporting these local industries, prioritizing their needs during major weather events to ensure production can resume as quickly as possible, and maintaining a close relationship with plant managers through monthly calls, and an open door policy. Natchitoches also leverages Louisiana’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP) to help these businesses save money and reinvest in job creation. “We feel like that’s a win win for us. We get a lot more out of the deal than we give up from it,” asserts Williams. “We’re willing to work with our manufacturers  anyway we possibly can.”

As the city looks to attract new employers, Mayor Williams underscores the efforts to foster a supportive and business-friendly environment. Recognizing the need to streamline processes and enhance online accessibility, the city has revamped its website and continues to work towards greater efficiency. “People have commented to us that they go to other cities, and they can do things online more easily, more efficiently,” he admits, “We’re getting to that point, to where it’s very simple. We just have a few more steps to go.”

Currently the community is seeing economic investment along Interstate 49, welcoming an auto mall, along with two other businesses which are in the construction phase. To improve traffic and safety concerns, a state funded roundabout is also being added to this area. In terms of what types of businesses Natchitoches is hoping to attract, Williams says, “We would like for it to be a business that is going to be pleasant for people that live near.” He emphasizes the city’s efforts to attract businesses that align with opportunities from the Biden administration’s CHIPS Act, with the goal of bringing more skilled and  high-paying jobs to the community. “We looked at this EDA grant that’s centered on the CHIPS act, of which the main goal is to manufacture semiconductors in the United States,” he explains. “My thought was to connect with the university, they have some information technology offerings over there, in terms of degrees, and those could be some good paying jobs.”

Addressing Housing Challenges

The mayor highlights the ongoing efforts to address the housing affordability crisis in Natchitoches. He maintains that a growing demand, combined with limited supply, has driven up housing costs, although not to the extent seen in places like San Francisco or Austin, Texas. Along with this, he says the attractiveness of the historic district, and the presence of the university are factors in the elevated real estate prices. “We have parents with means, who may purchase a home for their child while they are here for four years,” Williams elaborates. “All of these factors contribute to the high cost of housing here in the city of Natchitoches, but the current Council and myself, we are willing to allow housing, and subdivisions to be built and to happen.”

The recent adoption of a city wide master plan is expected to help Natchitoches deal with these challenges. “It lays out potentially where we could develop some housing in our city, we even talked about a tiny housing aspect, just from a viewpoint of affordability” he remarks.

A Future Vision

Natchitoches thrives not only on strong leadership and community engagement but also on vital partnerships that contribute to its success. Williams points to key collaborators, such as the Cane River National Heritage Area and the Cane River Waterway Commission, which funded nearly $5 million in recent developments. The National Park Service and Northwestern State University also provide crucial support, along with the many vendors the city works with for essential services.

Looking ahead, Mayor Williams envisions a prosperous future for Natchitoches, driven by economic growth, enhanced infrastructure, and a safe, inviting community. “We want to do all of these things that lead to growing our population, inviting people to come here, and not only come here but stay here,” he relays. “Everything we do, from attracting businesses and reducing crime to improving recreation and infrastructure, all of that is with the goal to make Natchitoches a place where people want to continue to come, and a place where people want to live.”

AT A GLANCE

Natchitoches, LA

What: A historic and vibrant city in Central Louisiana

Where: Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana

Website: www.natchitoches.com