Selma, Alabama, the “Queen City of the Black Belt,” just announced an initiative that will transform the downtown area bit by bit. Here’s what you need to know.

Downtown revitalization project in Selma—the details

On Thursday, October 5, Selma Mayor James Perkins, Jr. made a big announcement. A revitalization project is launching, and Phase One is underway.

According to WAKA, a grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation is making the project possible. Here are some of the changes we can expect to see:

Sidewalk improvements
Drainage improvements
Street resurfacing
Lighting improvements

But they’re just getting started.

“We can’t fix all of this in one day. It won’t happen in one year. But what we’re doing today is letting you know that this engine has started. This train is leaving the track.”
Mayor James Perkins, Jr., as quoted by WAKA

This announcement comes on the heels of the tornadoes that swept through Selma in January 2023.