When it opens for business April 18 and 19, the annual Historic U.S. 80 Hi-Way Sale will be even bigger than before.

The event, which is billed as the World’s Widest Yard Sale, will no longer take place just across the state of Alabama, as it has expanded to include businesses and individuals from Phenix City clear to Mesquite, Texas.

Selma-area businesses participating in the yard sale include the Selma Flea Market, GAW Trading Post, Gordon’s Antiques, On-Site Collection, Covenant Realty, Junebugg’s Flea and Antique Mall, A-1 Sales, the Treasure Box, Angie’s Auction Company and Clutterbugs among others.

In a statement this week, Gov. Robert Bentley said the annual is a chance for the state to showcase its lesser known towns.

“Communities all along U.S. Highway 80 are rich in culture, heritage and hospitality,” said Bentley. “During the Historic U.S. 80 Hi-Way Sale, Alabama can share one of its best-kept secrets. We welcome everyone to visit these unique towns and meet the wonderful people who live there. Whether you’re from another part of the state or another part of the country, we think you’ll enjoy discovering this region while making new memories along the way.”

Ron Sparks, director of the Alabama Rural Development Office, introduced the idea of the World’s Widest Yard Sale to stimulate the region’s economy as a project of the Alabama Black Belt Commission’s Marketing and Tourism Committee.

“Our goal from the very beginning was to get adjoining states involved, and this is what we’ve done with joining the Historic U.S. 80 Hi-Way sale,” Sparks says. “We’re excited to expand the sale throughout the Black Belt region and beyond our state’s borders and anticipate it to be a great success.”

More information about the event can be found Hwy80sale.net and WidestYardSale.com.