Selma has captured national attention in its eye-catching architectural hues as it is among 193 nominations in the Prettiest Painted Places Competition, sponsored by the Paint Quality Institute.

During the next few weeks, our Butterfly Capital will compete in areas of color selection, exterior painting and home improvement to win the title of the prettiest painted place in America.

Debbie Zimmer, spokesperson for the Paint Quality Institute, said the competition is a way for communities to celebrate the beautiful colors that cover their town.

“The competition itself really has generated a tremendous response from coast to coast,” Zimmer said. “It is really about paint and how it enhances the entire appearance of a community, not just one home or building within a town, but the whole community over all.”

Other Alabama towns nominated include Gulf Shores, Guntersville, Huntsville and Orange Beach. This is the third time the competition has been held.

“We did this competition back in 2000, and prior to that we did it in 1978 as well,” Zimmer said. Selma was among competitors in the 2000 contest.

Sixty finalists will be chosen Thursday, Zimmer said, and then in mid-October, 12 communities will be dubbed the prettiest painted places.

“Those 12 winners will of course be a part of a national media campaign to get the word out that these towns have in fact been chosen by a group of judges,” Zimmer said.

Judges will include a representative from HGTV, the national press, color doctor John Freeman and Zimmer herself.

Past finalists have been Cape May, N.J.; Lake Charles, La. and Telluride, Co.

“I think Selma should be absolutely delighted to be part of this competition,” Zimmer said. “And whether Selma wins or loses, the fact that you have been entered in, number one will provide your community with a host of media activity, and number two, the residents and the homeowners should really take great pride in the fact that they’re in the competition.”

The 12 finalists will be broadcasted in national news and on the Paint Quality Institute’s blog site.

For more information, visit blog.paintquality.com.