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Representatives from T-Mobile presented Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. with a check for $49,050 in a ceremony held Thursday afternoon at Riverfront Park.

The money comes from T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants, an initiative where the company pledged to donate $25 million to support small towns across the United States in the next five years. Each quarter, the company selects 25 small towns to provide funds meant to spearhead a variety of community development endeavors.

“On behalf of the City of Selma, I acknowledge being the recipient of this grant,” Perkins said. “We’re just proud to be one of 25 communities that T-Mobile has chosen to assist with this kind of community quality of life grant. We thank T-Mobile for its commitment … I would hope many other corporations would follow your model, your lead and do the same thing.”

Danard Watts, Rural Market Manager for T-Mobile, presented the check to Perkins.

“T-Mobile wants to be part of the community and help small towns thrive,” Watts said.

Perkins said T-Mobile can know for certain the City of Selma will put this grant to use upgrading facilities at the park.

“There’s a lot of great work that we can do with this,” he said.

Dr. Denisha Hendricks spoke about how the grant money would be used.

“This grant was specifically used for the enhancement of Riverfront Park,” she said. “It’s going to include things such as trash receptacles, picnic tables and shade awnings. There’s going to be some enhancements to the Evans Building utilizing the outdoor space of the George Evans Building.”