In a press release Tuesday, the Selma and Dallas County Economic Development Authority (EDA) announced that Hicks Properties, LLC is purchasing property on Felix Road to establish a pallet-manufacturing company.

Local EDA Executive Wayne Vardaman spoke before the Selma City Council Monday night, during that body’s work session, to announce the company’s plans and ask the council to approve a tax abatement for the company.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the council approved that motion.

The company will initially create six new jobs, which will turn into 20 by the beginning of its third year, and infuse a capital investment of nearly $350,000 into the property, the former site of Kelly’s Food.

“The main thing that you get is that they’re going to provide jobs,” Vardaman said. “And they’re pretty good paying jobs, it’s a fair wage to start with. I think they’ll be competitive as time goes by.”

In addition to the new jobs that will be created, Vardaman is celebrating the company’s choice to locate in Selma for offering growth to the area and filling a building that has been without a tenant for a while.

Construction will begin at the location this Summer and it should be open for business by the end of August.

Vardaman noted that the company’s owner, Mike Hicks, operates a similar business in Mobile and will hire someone to run the local operation.

According to Vardaman, Hicks was familiar with the Selma area and when he found out about the building on Felix Road, which meets his needs at a reasonable price, he jumped at the opportunity to set up shop in the Queen City.

“It presents commerce to the city – when people have money, they spend money,” Vardaman said. “That dollar turns over. I think it’s also significant in that it shows the city is open for business where manufacturing is concerned.”