The Song of Selma Park at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge needed renovation.

The base boards of the deck were weak and rotting.

They were a hazard and with possibly the biggest Jubilee ever coming up fast, Selma needed help.

That’s where LP Wood Polymers, Inc., stepped in.

They provided the city with the materials to replace the boards and by this weekend, the park was open and safe.

It’s that kind of dedication to the community – Mayor James Perkins Jr. said – that makes the industry located in the Craig Field Industrial Park a good corporate citizen.

City and county officials displayed their gratitude for that partnership Tuesday afternoon as the company announced a $14 million expansion of their Dallas County facility.

“The plan includes property improvements, plant expansion and new equipment, which will double production capacity and create additional jobs,” the company’s press release states.

Those jobs – which could be as many as 20 – won’t be the only benefit to the Selma area. John Snooker, general manager of LP’s outdoor living group, said that the work would be done with local contractors and suppliers as much as possible.

“This expansion is a result of the growth and strong demand for LP WeatherBest composite decking and railing products,” said Snooker. “It is also a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Selma employees, and the support of the Alabama Development Office, the Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority board of directors, and the Economic Development Authority Executive Board of Selma and Dallas counties.”

Both Perkins and Dallas County Probate Judge Johnny Jones thanked LP for their work in the community.

They handed out keys to the city and county respectively. Perkins also gave out portraits of the Edmund Pettus Bridge and the park the company helped to renovate.

“On behalf of the City of Selma, we really just want to express our appreciation,” Perkins said.

Jones recalled when LP first chose Craig Field some years ago. He said LP officials had several visits scheduled when they were looking for a site for the facility.

“We met with the officials, they flew into Montgomery,” Jones said. “We showed this site, had a good meeting with them.

I do recall they had a quick conference, they called the other sites they were supposed to go to and said there’s no need to waste our time, we want to locate here in Selma and Dallas County.

It was a good decision for them and a better decision for us.”

Centre of Commerce Executive Director Wayne Vardaman thanked several groups and individuals who were key in the process. Vardaman recognized ADO Project Manager Gary Faulkner, the EDA board members, Menzo Driskell and the board members of Craig Industrial.

LP is a supplier of building products, delivering innovative, high-quality commodity and specialty products to its retail, wholesale, homebuilding and industrial customers. Visit LP’s Web site at www.lpcorp.com for additional information on the company