There is good news on the economic horizon for Selma and Dallas County.

On Tuesday, Gov. Bob Riley was in town to announce a new business venture coming to Selma, which will bring about 100 jobs to the area.

New Gas Concepts, a company producing an environmentally friendly fuel alternative out of wood pellets, will be located on the Alabama River.

A capital investment of $60 million will be made to re-open the Alabama State Docks facility on the river.

Jobs at the facility will pay an average of $45,000 a year, according to a press release from Riley’s office. They are expected to have the facility operational before the end of 2007.

Last week, the Selma and Dallas County Economic Development Authority (EDA) Chairman Jim Hodo announced that PalletOne Inc., the nation’s largest wooden pallet manufacturer, purchased Selma’s Cahaba Valley Timber Company.

PalletOne now operates 15 facilities in 11 states. Company locations include Foreman, Ark., Bartow, Fla., Hazlehurst, Ga., St. Francisville, La., and New Boston, Texas.

Officials expect the purchase to bring an additional 20 jobs to the company.

Both of these announcements show that Selma and Dallas County are experiencing some positive growth in the area of economic development, and we trust that there is more to come.