On Tuesday, Gov. Bob Riley addressed several issues of interest to Selmians, not the least of which was the I-85 corridor.

The proposed corridor would extend the interstate from Montgomery to Mississippi. It would breathe new life into Dallas County as commerce through our area started to grow. &uot;It would be a great thing for West Alabama to have that extension,&uot; Riley said. &uot;Most of this is going to have to originate with federal dollars.&uot;

And therein lies the rub.

We need representatives such as U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby to ensure those federal funds reach the Black Belt. At a breakfast on Monday, Shelby spoke favorably of the corridor. &uot;If I could do one thing, I would start that project today,&uot; he said.

The I-85 corridor would bring more industry to the area. If it were built, businesses such as restaurants and retail stores would quickly follow.

The Hyundai plant in Montgomery and its suppliers in surrounding areas, including Dallas County, show we’re on the right track. Imagine what would happen if we had an interstate passing through our county. Imagine if we could turn Shelby’s

&uot;if&uot; into a &uot;when.&uot;

We encourage everyone to contact their representatives, both in Alabama and Washington D.C., and show their support for the corridor. If our voices are heard in Montgomery and on the capitol, we can change the face of the Black Belt.