Selma Advances to Final Four in National Strong Towns Competition

SELMA IS THE ONLY NC TOWN IN THE FINAL FOUR OF THE NATIONAL STRONG TOWNS COMPETITION. 

SELMA, NC – April 1, 2024 - Activate Selma, the non-profit group comprised of business owners, citizens, and volunteers, announced on April 1 that they are in the FINAL FOUR of the national competition “Strongest Town”. 

“A ‘strong town’ is any town, big or small, that prioritizes making progress in  transportation, housing, and fiscal resiliency for the long-term benefit of its people,”  stated Nikki Wall, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Town of Selma. “It is not  a ‘perfect’ town, nor does every strong town look the same. This is because strong  towns incrementally adapt to the conditions and challenges of their specific place from  the bottom up and Selma has certainly done just that and continues to grow forward.” 

The Strongest Town Contest discovers towns from the United States and Canada that  are building resilience from the bottom-up and spotlights them to an international  audience. At each stage of the competition, Strong Towns will share a different aspect  of how the competitors are applying the Strong Towns Approach to make strides in the  movement’s five core campaigns: Transparent Local Accounting, End Highway  Expansion, Safe & Productive Streets, Incremental Housing, and End Parking  Mandates & Subsidies. 

“Being the ONLY town in North Carolina that is still in the competition, advancing ahead  of both Asheville and Rutherfordton in the Sweet Sixteen round in week 2, Selma has a  real chance of being the winner, but we need your votes!” continued Wall. 

It is up to the Strong Town readers and members to vote for their favorites each week.  Voting is weighted so that Strong Towns member votes comprise 50% of the tally and  non-member votes make up the other 50%.

There are only four towns (Selma, NC; Norfolk, NE; Edmonton, AB and Maumee, OH) and two rounds left to the competition, which ends mid-April. Two representatives from  the winning town will be flown to the 2024 Strong Towns National Gathering in  Cincinnati (May 14-15) to be presented with their award certificate. Strong Towns’ video  creator will also visit the winning town later in 2024 to make a documentary short film  about the community. 

“This potential recognition of Selma will also benefit Johnston County and the State of  North Carolina in helping spur movement, interest, and recognition in making progress  in the areas Strong Towns advocates,” stated Wall. “We urge people to take a few  seconds to cast your vote for Selma.” 

The link to vote and to learn more is www.StrongestTown.com. 
 

------------------------------------- 

More About Activate Selma can be found here: www.ActivateSelmaNC.com More About Strong Towns can be found here: www.StrongTowns.org/About