When it comes to Selma, some might not think much of the small Alabama town.

“There are no places to go here” and “There’s nothing here,” are common phrases that have been said about Selma.

But nothing could be further from the truth than the phrase “there’s nothing here.”

Over the past few months — and really over the past year — Selma has welcomed many new businesses to town that serve the community in many ways.

Boutiques, a movie theater, urgent care centers, clothing stores, and the list goes on when it comes to all the new and exciting places that have come to call the city and county home.

Every time you look up, there’s another ribbon-cutting ceremony welcoming a new business to the area, and that’s a good thing.

The many businesses flowing into town are proof that Selma is an attractive place for a number of different organizations.

More businesses are continuing to make their way to town, as Trailways buses will now have stops in Selma, and it’s a business that, much like It’s Fashion before it, is making a return to the area after a previous stint in Selma.

This area has limitless potential when it comes to business opportunities.

There are many different niche markets that any number of businesses can, and in many cases already have, capitalize on.

Local organizations, such as the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, Selma-Dallas County Centre for Commerce Economic Development Authority and the Dallas County Commission, have all done well when it comes to selling the area and using the tools at their disposal in order to show businesses why Selma and Dallas County are the places they should set up shop.

Credit, of course, should also go to the community and the city and county as a whole for supporting business owners in their efforts to bring something to the table for this Black Belt town.

Business owners have to take a leap of faith when making the move to any city, so it’s truly a testament to how the community has created an inviting atmosphere to those shops and stores looking to come to the area and made that tough decision a little bit easier.

And as long as businesses stay in town, word will only spread about how Selma is a welcoming place for stores, hotels, shops, restaurants, etc.

It takes a total effort from the community and all the aforementioned agencies and organizations in order to make sure that businesses keep moving to the area.

Let’s hope this trend continues because there’s so much more that is needed and so much more that can be done to bring more commerce and interesting stores and venues to the Selma and Dallas County area.