Later this week, two businesses will formally have their ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

On Thursday, AmStar Emergency Medical Services will officially coronate its office on U.S. Highway 43 South, and Marvin’s Building Materials will baptize its new location in Demopolis Gateway Plaza on Friday.

While one may not consider an ambulance service a business and the argument could be made that Marvin’s is not really a new business in town, the ceremonies are a sign that commerce in Demopolis is doing pretty well.

Other businesses have made their way to Demopolis, and there is room for more.

Jeff Beck has taken his investment of the Demopolis Gateway Plaza and neatened it up, putting in new roofing for almost the entire plaza and giving The Market Place new ceilings and floors.

Main Moon Restaurant is moving into the plaza off of the highway to give the area a cleaner look, and there is ample store space to fill with other prospective businesses.

On the other end of Highway 80, new businesses are making their way in, like Sweet Water State Bank, which is working out of a temporary spot while its permanent location is being built just a little way down the road.

We are not blind to the stories of businesses closing up shop, but the news of late seems to be much more good than bad.

If we can continue to attract businesses not just to Demopolis but to Marengo County in general, then Marengo County will turn out to be the winner.

This week, the state of Alabama earned Area Development magazine’s Silver Shovel award for attracting high-value investment projects that will create a significant number of new jobs.

It looks like Demopolis is doing what it can to push Alabama in the right direction, toward a stronger employment situation.