News this week that the Dallas County Family Resource Center wants to recruit more students for its workforce investment program could not have come at a better time.

On Friday, the Alabama Department of Labor released the state unemployment numbers for the month of July, and counties located in the Black Belt continued to have the worst number across the state.

While the statewide unemployment average rose to 7 percent in July, Black Belt counties were well above that number.

Wilcox County had the highest unemployment rate in the state at 18.4, followed by Dallas County at 16.3 percent and Perry County at 15.7 percent.

The Dallas County Family Resource Center announced earlier this week is looking to recruit 50 students for its workforce investment program.

The free program, which is tailored toward to low-income Dallas County resident between the ages of 16 and 21 years old, helps better prepare its students to join the workforce.

Local economic development officials have been working tirelessly to battle the trend of high unemployment found throughout the Black Belt, and programs like this will be a great asset to them — as well as everyone in the region.

If Selma, Dallas County and the Black Belt are going to one day see the end of staggering unemployment numbers, it will require a properly trained workforce.

There are employers here now, there will hopefully be more in the future, and they will all have their eyes out for people in the community who are ready to work.

The more people take advantage of programs like this, the stronger our corner of the state can be moving forward.

We applaud the efforts of those at the Dallas County Family Resource Center, who are doing their part to better our community.