Marshall Taggart, the Executive Director of the Montgomery Regional Airport, spoke to the Selma Rotary Club Monday afternoon to share with the Rotarians the upcoming happenings at the nearby airport.

“I really appreciate the opportunity to come before you today,” said Taggart.

Taggart cited the airport as a large generator of money.

“It [the airport] has a lot of economic impact,” he said. “And it also helps Selma in a lot of different ways, kind of like throwing a rock in a lake. That ripple effect goes out to all of the surrounding counties.”

Some “ripples” soon to affect the Selma – Dallas County area are added direct flights to popular destinations like Orlando and Washington D.C.

To currently reach many of these destinations, travelers must change planes in Atlanta.

With these new, and according to Taggart, affordable flights, Montgomery Regional Airport hopes to serve as Selma’s gateway to the rest of the country and vise-versa.

“The thought process here,” said Taggart, “is to have the opportunity for businesses and military and civic organizations to move throughout the country at ease in a way that’s economical and reward them for flying through our airport… Montgomery can be the gateway for Selma to the rest of the country.”

Taggart also cited these new direct flights as an opportune resource in increasing Selma tourism as well, referring to Selma as a destination people want to see and adding that these direct new flights to Montgomery will make Selma more accessible to the rest of the country as well.

Selma Rotary Club President James Steele described Taggart’s presentation as a breath of fresh air.

“He gave us some really great information relevant to Selma and our surrounding counties and we are very excited he came and spoke to us,” he said.