It is a very simple act. When you take a pair of scissors to a ribbon — or in the case of Tuesday’s event at Craig Field, multiple pairs of scissors — whatever it is holding back, simply falls open.

There is little argument the Black Belt region is battling through a very sluggish economic recovery, routinely recording some of the highest unemployment figures each month.

But with each ribbon cutting our chambers of commerce organize, we improve, even if that improvement and growth is slight.

There is no telling just how important the opening of the new airport terminal at Craig Field will ultimately be to the economic revitalization of Selma and Dallas County.

There is no way to overstate the value Craig Field provides to Selma, to Dallas County and to the entire Black Belt region. Other than a dedicated workforce and abundant natural resources, Craig Field is our region’s premier industrial recruiting asset.

What other region our size, with our potential, has an airport ready and waiting? What other region our size, has tracts of land ready for industrial development and a proven track record of being a tremendous industrial partner?

The answer to both those questions is no one. No other region offers what we can when it comes to Craig Field.

Today, we applaud the authority for finding a way to build this new terminal and provide our area a much more welcoming front door.