SRA approves budget and officers for the new year, pledges to help downtown make a comeback

The Selma Redevelopment Authority (SRA) Board of Directors adopted a new budget and elected a slate of officers at its Dec. 14 meeting. 

The SRA Board approved an FY 23-24 budget with anticipated revenues of about $58,900, expenses of $62,770 and a carryover of $51,620.  

SRA Treasurer Sylvia Smith said the board is starting the year with a carryover, but most are designated funds. “We got our city of Selma appropriation very late in the year,” Smith said. “But we had cut our expenses.” 

Smith said the carryover is designated for projects such as façade enhancements and includes remaining Education Fund of American (EFA) funds that cannot be used for salaries. 

Upon the recommendation of Board members Mandy Henry and Dr. Rose Wilkins, the board re-elected its current slate of officers with Martha Lockett as chairman, Jimmie Coleman as vice chairman and Smith as treasurer. Board member Clay Carmichael volunteered to be the board secretary starting in January. 

Susan Youngblood is the SRA’s community advocate. 

Lockett said following the December meeting, “I think what you saw tonight was the result of six or eight months of working and seeing something happen. And the animation around the table says to us that what we are doing is worth the effort to do for the city.”  

SRA “will continue to find ways – big and little – to help downtown comeback so that everybody has a place they are comfortable,” Lockett said. 

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The SRA received a $4,400 Arts Council grant that will pay for an urban planner and a graphic artist for a new branding design and to come up with a wayfinding system.  

Lockett said the Arts Council grant requires a match, so $5,000 of EFA funds will be used for the graphic designer. 

The board discussed adopting its original SRA district lines as the SRA and Main Street catchment area.  

Lockett said she will send a letter to the city noting the Arts Council grant and the moving forward with wayfinding, as well as requesting $25,000 in funding for 2024. 

Carmichael and Henry agreed to work on promotions for the SRA. 

Lockett also reported on grant possibilities including the USDA for grants to businesses, a Delta Regional Authority Grant for capacity building, an NEA Our Town Grant in partnership with Lighting Selma and a Daniel Foundation letter of intent for capacity building. 

Present for the meeting were Lockett, Youngblood, Carmichael, Henry, Kayarda Lowe, Smith and Wilkins. Absent was Jimmie Coleman.  

The next meeting will be held Jan. 18, 2024.