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Bright day for Black Belt Something other than crops is springing up from the fertile soil of Alabama's Black Belt, and it provides evidence anew that Gov. Bob Riley is working to improve every nook and cranny of the state. The black-soiled rural area in west and central Alabama long has been a redoubt of poverty whether times elsewhere are good or bad. For years, state leaders have vowed to improve living conditions in the Black Belt, but results never matched their promises. But in August 2004, Gov. Riley created the Black Belt Action Commission and put it in the charge of state Treasurer Kay Ivey, a Republican, and state Sen. Hank Sanders, a Democrat. The idea was not merely to make an inventory of all the area's deficiencies, but to find solutions for them. In just 15 months, the results have been impressive. Programs sponsored by the commission have provided vision screenings for 6,000 people, provided transportation to medical facilities for pregnant women and children, set up an arts-and-crafts gallery, and provided job training. Plans also are in the works for a bird- and wildlife-watching trail, a marketing center, and an effort to encourage bed-and-breakfast operations. Since the commission was founded, and at least in part because of its work, more than 1,300 new jobs have been created and the jobless rate has fallen 2.7 percentage points. “It's plumb amazing,” said Ms. Ivey. She's right. All involved deserve applause and encouragement toward even greater accomplishments. Mobile Register
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