I’ve been doing a lot of traveling lately, to conferences and meetings and symposia. It’s that season. In March I attended the National League of Cities Conference in Washington, DC and the Delta Leadership Institute in St. Louis last month. Also in April, I attended a session in Seattle, WA sponsored by the National League of Cities and the U.S. Department of Commerce that focused on attracting Chinese investment. Selma was the only city in Alabama that was invited.

When I met with Wayne Vardaman, Executive Director of the Selma and Dallas County Economic Development Authority (EDA) earlier this week, we talked about the Seattle trip and how to build on the contacts made by Probate Judge Kim Ballard, Councilwoman Susan Keith and myself. I thanked him for the economic profile data and brochure that the EDA provided and that the Chinese mayors and other attendees found so impressive. We also talked about the Spring 2011 Economic Development Report for Selma and Dallas County that Wayne shared with me. I’m happy to report that there’s a lot of good news on the economic front.

First, though, here’s the bad news. I’m sure it comes as no surprise that we’re still in a recession. As a result, Selma and Dallas County didn’t attract any new business in 2010. But neither did most places in Alabama. Out of 67 counties, only 20 counties landed one or more new industries and the vast majority of those were in the largest metropolitan areas. Mobile County, Montgomery County and Madison County, which includes the City of Huntsville, reported the largest number of new projects, jobs and capital investment.

But here’s the good news. In spite of the economic downturn, existing companies right here in Selma and Dallas County expanded their businesses to the tune of $18.2 million in capital investment and created a total of 260 new jobs in 2010!

According to figures from the 2010 New & Expanding Business Industry Announcements Report that was released in April by the Alabama Development Office, Dallas County reported more new jobs than any other county in the Black Belt and ranked 13th in the state in the number of new projects, 12th in the number of new jobs added and 20th overall in capital investment.

In 2010, Globe Metallurgical invested $10.4 million and created 90 new jobs. American Apparel was awarded a $50 million government contract that resulted in the retention of jobs and the creation of 40 new jobs. Crown Health Care Laundry Services invested $1.2 million and created 20 new jobs. Hanil E-Hwa invested a total of $5.2 million in two expansions resulting in 10 new jobs. And Plantation Patterns Furniture Company, the successor to Meadowcraft, recently purchased an additional warehouse and leased another building for a distribution center resulting in the creation of 100 new jobs. Their total investment was $1 million.

In addition, International Paper reported hiring 100 additional employees in 2010 that were not included in those jobs figures. Nor were Bush Hog’s employment numbers which rose from a low of 254 to almost 350 after their acquisition by the Alamo Group. The joint efforts of the City of Selma, Dallas County and the EDA working with Bush Hog, the Norfolk Southern Railroad and the community ensured that Bush Hog remained and continues to operate in Selma. Business Alabama magazine designated that effort as the “Best Save” of an industry in 2010.

Prior to 2010, Castle Rock Industries announced plans to invest $120 million in five phases. Phase I is nearing completion and Castle Rock is hiring and plans to open this summer.

The 2010 economic report and current activity is indeed good news for Selma and Dallas County. The effect of a collective positive attitude and action on the city;s and county’s economic outlook cannot be overstated here. Despite the daily onslaught of negative characterizations of Selma and its elected officials, myself in particular, these businesses along with “Team Selma” (of which I am a member), city and county elected officials and business and community leaders believed in Selma and took deliberate steps to create the outcome they envisioned.

I am completely optimistic about the economic future of our city. I hope you are too after reading this.

Before I close, I want to mention that I recently toured parts of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham with Mayors Maddox and Bell and was humbled and awed by the destruction wrought by the tornadoes that struck those cities earlier this month. Our Fire and Police Department personnel were on the scene assisting with search and rescue operations almost immediately and I offered anything else in the way of city services that we could spare as the cleanup effort continues. Mayor Bell simply asked for the loan of a chipper to help with the daunting task of clearing the ten of thousands of trees and limbs that litter the streets. Please continue to keep the people of the affected areas in your thoughts and prayers. There is so much more that needs to be done before their lives return to anywhere near normal.

As always, I am honored to serve as your Mayor.

George Evans