The air conditioning may not be working yet, but it’s still business as usual for the Centre for Commerce.

Monday was the center’s first day of official business at its new location, 912 Selma Ave. Boxes needed unpacking and the phone system needed tweaking, but business didn’t stop just because of the move.

Some of that activity included working on new business prospects &045;&045; just one of the center’s duties. According to Vardaman, the centre houses not only the Chamber of Commerce, but also a tourism department, the Economic Development Authority and a leadership program.

The EDA handles new and expanding industries as well as workforce development. The Chamber of Commerce focuses on business and civic affairs along with retail industry. The tourism department encompasses tourism for both Selma and Dallas County.

According to office administrator Tina Price, in the past callers to the Chamber of Commerce looking for the EDA were given the necessary phone number. Now the call can be transferred to the appropriate office since they’re together.

Price said she had already received a number of calls requesting information from the center. One woman from Mobile was planning on visiting Selma for a walking tour. Someone else was searching for information on the black heritage tour.

Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce Claire Twardy said she was excited about new possibilities for visitors as well as Selmians visiting the center.

Twardy said Monday was spent putting the finishing touches on office computers and phones, but that didn’t mean the office wasn’t open. Monday saw a number of people come by for tours and community members drop in to see how things were progressing.