Enterprise
City of Progress
Enterprise in the News
APRIL 2016
Coffee County,
Enterprise experience
population growth
in past year
April 1 , 2016
Coffee County outgrew its 14 other southeastern Alabama counties in 2015, according to U.S. Census statistics released recently. With 390 new residents, Coffee County finished third in
growth of the 26 southernmost
Alabama counties and 12th
among the state’s 67 counties.
A news story published on al.com this week pointed out that the census
figures show 36 Alabama counties decreased in
population from 2014 to 2015.
Although the U.S. Census has not released 2015 population statistics for cities and towns, other population data websites quote census figures giving Enterprise a population of 27,953. That would account for a population increase of 181 from the 2014 U.S. Census data, and would account for almost half of
last year’s population growth in Coffee County. Based on the 2015 population figure, Enterprise has experienced a population growth of almost 32 percent, or more than 6,700 people, since 2000, when the population was 21,190.
Mayor Kenneth Boswell said Enterprise and Coffee County are fortunate to see continuing steady growth at a time when so many other counties, cities and towns are losing people.
“We are extremely blessed to have people continuing to make Enterprise their home, whether they are children and grandchildren of long-time residents who are returning home to raise their families, military families settling down here in retirement or personnel filling new jobs that have come to our community,” Boswell said.
“Continuing growth means there is optimism and confidence in the future of our community,” he said. “Our goal is and has always been to create a thriving atmosphere where our residents have a good, balanced quality of life and consequently, a place where others want to come and live and become a part of our community family.”
In recent years, the city has been recognized by various research websites as one of the top three Alabama towns; a leader in job creation and one of the “happiest” places to live.
According to the county data, the counties with the most growth in Alabama are Baldwin in the panhandle, with 3,996 new residents; Madison in north Alabama, with 2,977; and Lee on the central-eastern border of the state, with 2,567. Other counties with significant growth during the past year are Mobile, Elmore, Tuscaloosa, Shelby, St. Clair, Cullman and Limestone.
The statistics show that Houston County grew by 63 people, Geneva by 70 and Dale by 64.
Among the counties losing population last year were Dallas, Lauderdale, Barbour, Butler, Talladega, Calhoun and Walker counties.
For more stories related to the release of population statistics recently, click on the following links:
City hires consultant for fire
station, stadium projects
April 7 , 2016
The Enterprise City Council voted unanimously
April 5 to hire a project manager to oversee renovaons on Bates Memorial Stadium and the new central fire staon, as well as construction of the city’s
fourth fire station. For more, click on the following link(s):
City of Enterprise photo
EFD firefighters honored at promotion ceremony
April 7 , 2016
After a rigorous period of testing, four Enterprise firefighters were rewarded as they officially received promotions April 5 in a pinning ceremony at the Enterprise City Council meeting. Mayor Kenneth Boswell and Fire Chief Byron Herring praised the EFD personnel and said the four firefighters are leading examples of the professionalism, knowledge and skill of the city's firefighting force. Family members were on hand for the ceremony, with wives or children performing the pinning of the new officer insignia on their loved one. Lt. Chris Davis was promoted to captain; Chad Jinks, Gary Lee Enfinger and Jimmy Willis were promoted to lieutenant. For more, click on the following link(s):
A crowd of more than 500 enjoy 'Movie Under Moonlight'
April 8, 2016
A crowd of more than 500 children, parents, grandparents and friends took to the field at Bates Memorial Stadium April 8, but not to play football. Rather than football helmets and padded jerseys, the participants donned sat in lawn chairs or on blankets spread picnic-style on the ground. Some wore shorts, others wore jackets and wrapped themselves in warm throws or blankets, and experienced a "first" for Bates Stadium and the City of Enterprise. They watched a movie, set up on a portable movie screen. outdoors, under the moon and the stars. Even the glow of the Hillcrest Batpist Church steeple and the neighborhood street lights added an ambience to the chilly evening that nevertheless warmed the hearts of families savoring the joy of togetherness.Food from area vendors combined with the children's games and the ever-popular Peanuts gang gracing
City of Enterprise photos
the 50-foot portable movie screen combined for a delightful evening.
Mayor Kenneth Boswell said he was extremely pleased by the turnout for the family-oriented event, which was sponsored by Navy Federal Credit union.
The photo at right, top, shows the serene scene as the movie was beginning. The bottom photo features those who played a key role in making the event a reality: from left, Enterprise Tourism Director Meredith Brunson; Enterprise Communications Director Jason Wright; Assistant Manager Tim Nemnich of Navy Federal Credit Union, Enterprise; Mayor Kenneth Boswell, City Councilman Tommy Johnson and Enterprise Parks and Recreation Director Billy Powell.
For more photos of the event, click on the following link(s):
Townsend speaks to Republican Women's Club
April 19, 2016
Turner Townsend spoke to the Coffee County Republican Women's Club and expressed concerns about city government. For more information, click on the following links:
Mayor responds to group's accusations
April 27, 2016
Mayor Kenneth Boswell showed evidence and verbally responded to accusations made by Turner Townsend and the group "Everybody's Enterprise," formerly known as "Take Back Enterprise."
For more information, click on the following links:
Industrial Park gets fiber-ready designation
April 7, 2016
Yancey Parker Industrial Park recently was made "fiber-ready" for high speed internet in an effort to enhance economic development recruiting efforts at that location. For more information, click on the following link:
Airport rehabilitation project on target
April 7, 2016
An update on an airport hangar rehabilitation project indicates the work is about 80 percent complete. For more information, click on the following link:
Police Chief addresses shootings in city
April 19, 2016
Police Chief T.D. Jones and Mayor Kenneth Boswell on April 19 addressed the multiple shootings that have occurred in the city since February. Jones called the violence "ridiculous." For more information, click on the following links:
Enterprise Ledger photo
Tourism Department contributes
to Lions Club's Boll Weevil 100
April 19, 2016
The Enterprise Department of Tourism presented a check to the Enterprise Lions Club to hep with the Boll Weevil 100 Bike Ride and Run. For more information, click on the following links:
City of Enterprise photo
Proclamation honors
wounded veterans
April 27, 2016
Members of the Wounded Veterans Committee joined Mayor Kenneth Boswell to declare the week of May 2 as Wounded Veterans Week. For more information, click on the link at left.
City of Enterprise photo
Recent violence leads
mayor to call for prayer vigil
April 25, 2016
Enterprise ministers and city leaders are asking residents to join forces and hands with them this Wednesday to pray for an end to the violence that has plagued the community in recent weeks.
They will lead a prayer vigil for peace at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Enterprise Farmers Market.
Mayor Kenneth Boswell and Police Chief T.D. Jones met with a number of pastors and church officials Friday to discuss the recent rash of violence that has left three dead, injured several others and endangered many more.
“This could have been you, your wife, your loved ones,” Boswell said. “It could have been any one of us.”
Jones said although the shootings appear to be isolated, unconnected incidents, the problem affects everyone. He and the Mayor assured the group of pastors and church leaders that the full resources of the police department’s disposal are being used to bring those responsible for the shootings to justice.
Some arrests have been made, but police are still investigating all of the incidents, which began in February with the stabbing death of man in his apartment. The most recent incidents were a shooting at a house party on Baxter Street and a drive-by shooting into Larry’s BBQ.
Jones asked for the public’s help in solving the crimes. Anyone with information about any of the incidents of violence is asked to contact the police department at 334-347-2222 or leave a tip at www.enterprisepd.com.
Boswell and the local pastors agreed that prayer for the community is perhaps the most effective way to combat crime.
“This is a city of people that help one another. Let’s pull together for this community against violence of any kind,” the Mayor said. “Let’s pray for those who have bad thoughts.”
Boswell said the community-wide prayer vigil would be a show of solidarity, sending a message that “we are not going to tolerate the rash of violence that is really unprecedented in this community.”
He asked pastors throughout the community to encourage their congregations or representatives of their congregations to attend the prayer vigil Wednesday night.
Prayer vigil seeks an end to violence
April 27, 2016
About 300 clergy members, community residents and city leaders joined hands and hearts in prayer April 27 in a special-called gathering to pray for peace. The Enterprise Prayer Vigil was called for by Mayor Kenneth Boswell last week in the aftermath of a number of violent shootings that have occurred in the city in recent weeks. For more information and/or photos, click on the links below.
City of Enterprise photos
