Build a Better Alabama: Revitalize the Black Belt

Alabama’s Black Belt is rich in heritage, culture, and potential. Once known for its fertile soil, the region’s greatest resource today is its people — entrepreneurs, farmers, artisans, educators, and families who form the heart of its communities. To truly revitalize the Black Belt, we must empower local businesses and help residents build prosperity from within.

Small, local businesses are the backbone of our economy. When we buy from local shops, hire local contractors, and choose to dine at locally owned restaurants, we keep dollars circulating close to home. The revenue generated allows the private sector to thrive, which is a catalyst for job creation and a stronger tax base. Support for local businesses is a vote of confidence in our neighbors as well as the future of our towns.

To grow the Black Belt, we need a comprehensive approach that combines investment, education, and collaboration. Here are a few strategies:

Encourage Entrepreneurship: Provide resources such as business incubators, mentorship programs, workshops, and access to small business capital so that local residents can turn their ideas into thriving enterprises.

Expand Workforce Development: Partner with local high schools, colleges, technical schools, and workforce training programs to equip residents with the skills needed for today’s industries. Encourage entrepreneurship and skilled trades.

Invest in Infrastructure: Reliable broadband, transportation networks, and utilities are essential for business growth and connectivity across rural communities.

Promote Tourism and Cultural Heritage: The Black Belt is rich in history, music, cuisine, and natural beauty. The promotion of local festivals, agritourism, and historic sites can draw visitors and create new business opportunities.

Foster Community Collaboration: Churches, nonprofits, schools, and civic organizations can partner to create shared workspaces, cooperative markets, and mentorship networks. When people help one another succeed, the entire region benefits.

Pride in ownership also plays a vital role in community renewal. Simple acts like pressure washing a storefront, keeping sidewalks neat and clean, planting flowers, or placing attractive products in windows can make a remarkable difference in how a town looks and feels. A well-kept business district sends a message of hope, pride, and progress. Even small touches, such as displaying a flag or adding seasonal decorations, reflect pride in one’s work and in the community. When every business and every property owner takes responsibility for their space, it lifts the spirit of the entire town.

I first met Willie Atkins of Uncle Willie’s BBQ Sauce in Eutaw over the summer at the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival. This weekend, Mr. and Mrs. Atkins met my husband and me with a case of their famous sauce that we ordered for our Christmas gift baskets — a perfect reminder of why support for homegrown businesses matters. Their success represents the spirit of entrepreneurship, family, and pride that defines the Black Belt and keeps the local economy strong. Support Uncle Willie’s BBQ Sauce. They’ve been in business in Greene County since 1965.

As Lieutenant Governor, I will champion policies that help rural entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, expand workforce opportunities, and strengthen local tourism. I believe in meeting people where they are at by helping individuals find pathways to meaningful employment. We can help residents break the cycle of poverty through work, training, and community support. True revitalization begins with people within the community: neighbors helping neighbors, business owners supporting one another, and residents taking pride in their towns.

Together, we can build a stronger, more prosperous Black Belt – one that showcases its people and secures opportunity for generations to come.

Dr. Nicole Jones Wadsworth is an economic developer and commercial real estate broker. She is a 2026 Republican Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama.

Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Alabama Gazette staff or publishers.