City ranked 11th most business-friendly

The API scored cities in four categories including economic vitality, business tax burden, community allure and transportation infrastructure.

The scores were tallied and an overall average score based on the four categories placed the cities in rank.

In economic vitality, Enterprise placed 13th overall. In the business tax burden and community allure categories, the city placed 19th in the state.

Enterprise placed 33rd in transportation infrastructure category, which comprises the smallest percent of the ranking system. The transportation infrastructure score is based on the variety and convenience of transportation for businesses.

Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell attributes the success of Enterprise to its people.

"The citizens play a very big role," said Boswell. "Not only (citizens), but the existing businesses, whether it be industry or retail."

Boswell said the existing businesses are a shining example for other businesses looking to locate in Enterprise.

Boswell said the city's strongest suits of the four categories are community allure and taxation.

Concerning taxation of businesses, Boswell said the city has worked to keep fees to a minimum and has maintained an 8.5 percent sales tax rate for businesses, which is lower than several surrounding municipalities, including Dothan.

"From a management standpoint, we try to do everything we can to keep taxation as low as we can," Boswell said. "We have not increased any fees during my tenure as mayor, nor during my time on council."

The millage tax is one of the lowest in the state, which he said also plays a big role.

Cost of living, education system, crime rates, job and population growth and median per capita income all contribute to keeping Enterprise in the upper echelon of economic progress studies.

"Still, our goal as it was years ago, is to hopefully keep moving up in the rankings so that at some point ... naturally everybody wants to be number one at some point," Boswell said.

The city is making efforts to improve transportation infrastructure with the four-laning of Highway 167 North 2.5 miles out from Boll Weevil Circle. The city also has plans for a runway expansion at the Enterprise Municipal Airport.

"It's still a priority to the administration to improve transportation infrastructure in all aspects, whether it be highway infrastructure, the airport or rail."

Another important factor the city has on its side is the access to railways.

"It adds to your arsenal of being able to show transportation needs to certain industries that are looking at your city," Boswell said. "Some people use the rail a lot, and to be able to tout that as one of those transportation opportunities is a very valuable asset."

The Alabama Policy Institute in an independent, nonprofit research and education organization founded in 1989. It provides research and analysis of Alabama's public policy decisions in an effort to deepen Alabama citizens' understanding and appreciation for sound economic, social and governing principles.

Boswell said if he had to place the success on just one element it would be "the individuals, themselves, reaching out to those people (potential businesses) and showing a positive overall view of our city and what it has to offer when people come to town. Attitude is one of the best things you can let some one see. If you walk around with sour attitude, you're going to get sour. But if you walk around with a good attitude about what is occurring in and around you with a positive nature, then normally you'll get positive outcomes and this is definitely a positive outcome."

Boswell said studies like API's help by providing facts on paper to reinforce what is verbalized to potential business and industry interested in Enterprise.