Selma-Dallas Co. Center for Commerce under new leadership

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

The Selma-Dallas County Center for Commerce is under new leadership. Brenda Tuck took over as director of the organization on January 1st.

The organization promotes community, tourism and economic development in Dallas County.

“We have that quality of life community development side through our Chamber. We have the pure industrial economic development side through our EDA.

And our job is very simple and it’s very complex in a lot of ways, but it’s very simple in that we’re going to work with those existing industries that are here. We’re going to make sure that they have what they need to not just remain here but to thrive and grow,” said Tuck.

Tuck brings over 25 years of economic development experience to the job. Prior to accepting the position — she was the state rural development manager — working to support over 40 rural counties around the state — with their economic development challenges.

“We were able to go in and work with that economic developer and say ‘What are the top three things we can do for you today?’ And that’s where the scope of work came from. And so all the things that, that were activities that need to be be done individually, we did, and the things that were overarching we began to create programming for,” she said.

Tuck says recruiting new industry to the area — and supporting existing industry — will continue to be a top priority.

“We’re going to be doing a lot of marketing. You’re going to see that. We’re really going to make sure that people know and understand what is here. The opportunities that are here. The opportunities to work. And helping our existing industries is always job #1.”

Tuck follows long-time director Wayne Vardaman — who retired after more than 20 years of leading the Center for Commerce.