The Board of Mayor and Aldermen continues to show they are willing to work outside the box and be progressive to turn downtown Vicksburg into a tourist destination.

Two weeks ago, the board approved a new leisure and recreation district allowing customers to buy their favorite alcoholic beverage at a restaurant or club in an area known as the “Washington Street District” and take it with them when they leave, or sit at an outside table at the business to enjoy their libation.

The district goes into effect Nov. 2.

The board has also recently started the process of changing the city zoning ordinance to allow businesses to brew beer in Vicksburg. A hearing on the ordinance is schedule for Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m.

South Ward Alderman Alex Monsour hit the nail on the head on why these two changes are so important for downtown. Allowing businesses to brew beer and residents and tourists to sit outside and walk between the restaurants with their drinks will attract people downtown. And specifically younger people.

“What we’re trying to do is this, we’re trying to attract the younger generation into town and attract the millenials,” Monsour said. “They like that (breweries). Studies have been done, and that’s part of what attracts them to the downtown areas and living in the downtown area, and that was one of the criteria listed.”

With the number of tourists arriving on riverboats and coming to visit the national military park, the board is working to turn the traffic into dollars. Giving people unique things to do and valuable amenities like craft breweries will undoubtedly attract people to visit, sit and relax.

Two possible breweries are already proposed, both by Tim Cantwell. One as part of the technology transfer center in the old Mississippi Hardware building and another as part of a craft pizza restaurant on Washington Street.

“There’s no reason why Vicksburg shouldn’t have its own brew, and our hope is to grow that up and incubate it there, grow it up and then be able to launch a production brewery, which will create a bunch of jobs,” Cantwell said.

Downtown Vicksburg is a great asset to the city. Thank you to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen for continuing to be progressive and looking for ways to capitalize on resource downtown is to the city.