It’s no secret that tourism is one of Selma’s strongest industries. Between large events like the annual Jubilee Bridge Crossing and the Battle of Selma, Dallas County draws countless residents from across the country each year. And with such a strong tourism industry, we rely heavily on our city leaders and tourism department to continually highlight Selma and Dallas County’s positive attributes.

We thank our city government for constantly putting a heavy emphasis on the importance of tourism. We also encourage city leaders to continue to brainstorm new ways to attract visitors to Selma and the Black Belt.

With downtown revitalization and countless ribbon cuttings for new boutiques and restaurants, we are confident that our city is taking steps in the right direction to not only attract business — but to improve Selma.

With thousands of visitors to Selma this weekend for the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Class 1A-3A state track meet, we encourage area businesses to extend a hospitable hand and greet these visitors with a warm smile.

It’s up to us, as residents, to not only tell — but also show — visitors why it’s so great to be a resident of Selma and Dallas County.

With everyone’s cooperation, we can grow our city and make it become an destination for residents throughout the state and nation. We already have a rich history to look back on, let’s make our future just as bright.