Shareef Abdur-Rahim has come to realize something about Selma everyone should know by now: It’s a great place to be.

Thursday, Abdur-Rahim’s representatives came to Selma to ally with the Four Rivers Global Leadership Association to develop community development in the Black Belt.

Abdur-Rahim hopes to establish new businesses and strengthen existing ones, which means more jobs for residents of the Black Belt and Selma.

Rahim and the Four Rivers Global Leadership Alliance want to make the Black Belt and the world better.

We hope they succeed.

Dallas County’s unemployment for the month of March was at 10.7 percent. While the citizens of Dallas County are hardworking and knowledgeable, it seems, that many businesses don’t want to put this to the test.

We’re glad to hear Abdur-Rahim and Four Rivers do. Selmians are ready to be tried. Just ask Renosol, Bush Hog and International Paper. Every business that has come to Selma has been happy with the outcome and hopes to do more in the area in the future.

We’re glad that Abdur-Rahim and his organizations realize this and we hope more follow. It’s reported that other professional athletes could join Abdur-Rahim and bring even more well needed funding to invest in our community. Maybe soon, Abdur-Rahim will realize what everyone else has realized about Selma: It’s a great place to be, but it’s even a better place to do business.