Historic Water Avenue will soon play host to an inaugural event that has a local charity beaming and area stomachs rumbling.

The first Alabama River Chili Cookoff is scheduled for Thursday, March 8 and is a project organized by the Leadership Selma-Dallas County Class XVIII to benefit the Salvation Army.

So far, 30 businesses and groups have signed up to either sponsor or compete in the event.

“We’re very excited about this year’s event. The teams are really starting to come together,” Class XVIII member Kirk Johnson said. “We feel that the teams who have committed thus far represent a wide range of industries and embody some of the best Selma has to offer.”

The businesses include: Alfa Insurance, Alford & Associates, Amy Huff CPA, P.C., Artesian, AXA Advisors, LLC, BankTrust, Boyd Financial Group, Builder’s Supply, Central Alabama Co-op, Children’s Dentistry of Central Alabama, Extreme Fit, First Cahawba, Henry Brick, International Paper, Karate Central, Marion Bank and Trust, Nico’s Woodworks, Pinebelt Wireless, Rountree Electric, Screenco, St. James Hotel, City of Selma, Selma Rotary Club, The Selma Times-Journal, Sorrell Dentistry, Southeast Meter, John B. Morris CLU, ChFC, Tucker Family Dentistry, Vaughan Regional Medical Center and Wood Orthodontics.

Even though the event itself is two weeks away, the deadline for teams to register and businesses to sign on as sponsors is March 1.

The registration cost for teams is $50, while businesses can sign on as vendors for as little as $100. Those who sign-up as vendors — or take advantage of one of the three sponsorship levels — receive a free chili team.

Proceeds from this inaugural event go to support the Salvation Army.

“This year’s chili cookoff will be benefitting the Salvation Army, which does a tremendous amount of charitable work in our area and beyond,” Johnson said. “We still have room for more teams, so those interested need to grab their ingredients, secret recipes and a pack of Rolaids and come out and support a good cause.”

The public will be invited to come and sample the chili that Thursday evening and help select the fan favorite.

Admission to the event is $5 for everyone ages 9 and up, while those under 9 years old will be admitted for free. Music and entertainment will be going on during the event, while pizza will also be for sale to those not wanting chili.

Gates to the event will open at 5 p.m. and the winning teams will be named at 7 p.m.

Those who want to sign up a team should contact Becky Glaze at 875-2600 or Kirk Johnson at 418-8237. To find out about sponsorship opportunities, contact Ebony Rose at 418-0005.