The city of Selma is working to revitalize its historic downtown area after being designated a Main Street Alabama community earlier this month. This designation is part of the Main Street program, which uses a four-point approach to improve downtown Selma.
Main Street Program Goals
The goal of the Main Street program is to help communities organize for success, create vibrant public spaces, and enhance their economic base. Mandy Henry, owner of Queen City Market, a clothing and furniture store located downtown, expressed her excitement about the designation. “We need restaurants, we need things that keep the hustle and bustle going downtown, that help get shoppers and local community bought in to shopping here staying local,” she said.
Mary Johnson, who recently opened a soul food restaurant downtown, also welcomed the initiative. “I would love it. I remember back in the day when it was happening, you know. And Selma kind of picking back up I believe you know cause downtown is waking back up cause it’s been dead,” she said.
The Main Street Selma program will focus on the Water Avenue and the Old Town Historic Districts, with two key areas of focus being historic preservation and business development. According to Main Street Selma Coordinator Sarah Aghedo, the program provides a clear economic road map for revitalization in the downtown area.
Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.
