Selma Marina improvement project launches this fall

Selma’s Marina may have ended the summer season looking the same, but the $322,000 dock and pavilion improvement project has been in full swing behind the scenes.  

The City of Selma told the contractor to proceed on Aug. 4 and ordered materials that are now in production and should be delivered in the next three to four months, said Danielle Wooten, Selma’s Director of Planning and Development.  

Councilman Clay Carmichael, who represents Ward 3 that includes Selma Marina, said the contractor didn’t want to work during peak season, so now that fall is around the corner, construction should begin.  

“The fall is the best time to do this work. They want to wait until the season is over, and they want to wait until the water table drops,” Carmichael said.  

The marina project was announced in August 2022 and somespeculated the delay had been due to the Jan. 12 tornado. But Carmichael said it was related to the need to get the project designed and make some adjustments to the design. For instance, when the dock was designed, it was determined that driving pilings into the basin would be necessary and that changed the cost.  

The Marina Enhancement project is being funded by a number of sources. First by a grant through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management as part of the Boating Infrastructure Grant program. Selma applied and was awarded $200,000, the same grant that was used to build the “T” pier at Roland Cooper State Park in Camden. The city of Selma is putting up $67,000, which they have already done. The state of Alabama is giving an additional $25,000.  

Lastly, the Wild Game Cook Off in Selma decided to use the profit from their fundraiser to help the marina, and the 13 other cookoffs around the state did the same, bringing in $30,000.   

That was made possible thanks to Central Alabama Farmer’s Co-op General Manager Tim Wood, who heads up the local Alabama Wildlife Federation Wild Game Cook Off held in Selma each October.  

The Selma marina project will happen in phases. The first being the dock and pavilion improvements, according to Carmichael. The next will be the road and the parking lot, including some handicapped parking. Carmichael said there is a possibility some paving of the road will happen soon. He also said there are plans in the works to landscape and maintain the surrounding area.  

The marina improvements will help bring in more tourism dollars to Selma.   

The Selma marina plays host to several fishing tournaments, but none as large as those held at Bridgeport in Wilcox County or Demopolis Landing in Marengo County.  

Kay Donaldson, program director for the Alabama Bass Trail, the largest tournament series in Alabama, said tournaments draw anglers from out of town early to practice days before a tournament, and anglers bring family and friends with them. They all have to eat, get fuel, stay the night in a hotel and often visit other attractions.  

“Bass fishing tournaments are a valued piece of business for the weekend Thursday through Sunday time frame for hotels and attractions,” she said.  

Donaldson said most tournaments average 65 to 150 boats, which brings in anywhere from $150,000 to $225,000 in economic impact to the area.   

“It really does depend on where the anglers are traveling from and if they spend the night. We survey all of our anglers so we know where they are coming from and we ask them how many nights they stay, that’s how we generate our numbers. We get an average of what they spend whether it is on fuel, lodging, food and entertainment.”