More people across the state of Alabama will know more about Greenville as an article featuring the Camellia City has been recently published in the Alabama Municipal Journal.

The article, written by the publication's Communications Director Carrie Banks, was printed in the February edition of the magazine. It focuses on many of the positive aspects of the city and includes interviews with Mayor Ernie Smith, Main Street Director Nancy Idland, Councilmember Debra Hood and City Horticulturist Jennifer Stringer.

The five-page article with pictures focuses on recent accomplishments such as the building of a new high school and library, and the creation of a horticulture department plus the revitalization of the downtown area.

Banks' lead paragraph reads: "Greenville, Alabama, a modest-sized city of approximately 7,500, has been working diligently to make good things happen. The people of this close-knit community understand that teamwork and creative thinking can make big ideas become an even bigger reality."

The publication is distributed to mayors, councilmembers and other city government personnel across the state and to similar league offices across the nation. The circulation of the magazine is 4,500.

Banks said that her day-long visit to Greenville was reminiscent of trip back to her own hometown.

"It was most refreshing. I am from a small town in North Carolina and it was like going home. It was nice to visit somewhere where people have identities and everyone knows one another," she said.

Many of the hours Banks spent in Greenville was with Hood who said the article was a great opportunity for Greenville.

"I thought this was a wonderful opportunity for Greenville to be spotlighted and to showcase the things that we have accomplished over the last decade. We have the restoration of downtown, we have built a new library, restored the Ritz Theatre as a civic auditorium and we have restored our City Hall," Hood said.

Of all the things Banks wrote about in her article, she said it was the little things that impressed her the most.

"One of the things I found most impressive was not just that there is

a nice, new library or the renovations downtown, but it was the little things that are really big things. Greenville is one of the smallest cities to have a horticulture department and it has really served the city well. I think that is something that will take off in other communities," Banks said.

The story came as a breath of fresh air for some city officials who said they were glad to see the positive aspects of the community being recognized.

"This has been a great boost for our community to be featured in this way. It shows that we have not just been sitting around, but that we have been active. It points out that our community is filled with volunteers who have helped our city grow and that many of our accomplishments would not have been possible without them," Hood said.

Banks said Greenville was fortunate to have caring leaders who take their role in local government seriously.

"Other communities this size can learn from Greenville," Banks said. "The leadership has done a great job."

Additional copies of the publication have been ordered by Mayor Smith. The article can also be seen on the internet at www.alalm.org.