Volunteers sought ‘to make a difference’ downtown

A new executive director is named, committee chairmen selected and now Main Street Enterprise is seeking citizens interested in “making a difference” in the downtown area.

“To make downtown Enterprise a target destination for arts, history, entertainment, dining and shopping for all ages in the Wiregrass area through creative marketing, a cohesive community of merchants and a fresh take on discovering downtown,” is the mission of the three-year-old program in Enterprise, designed to provide arts, entertainment and exposure to local history, while creating a fun and unique shopping experience for all ages.

Enterprise businesses or individuals are not required to be located downtown to be a part of a Main Street Committee, which includes promotions, economic vitality, design and organization, Enterprise Main Street Executive Director Mariah Montgomery said. “Committee membership is open to the public and we welcome anyone interested in making a positive difference in the downtown district.”

Committee members do not have to be business owners. “Just anyone who has an interest in making a difference downtown,” said Main Street Organization Chairman Katie Sawyer. “We’ve got a good variety of people involved in Main Street, but it’s always good to have a wide variety of perspectives.”

Shelia Harris is the chairman of the board of directors, Bill Baker is board vice-chair, Wendy Grimes is board treasurer and Debbie Gaydos is board secretary.

Baker is also Design Committee Chairman. Ben Jimmerson is Economic Vitality Committee Chairman, Katie Sawyer is Organization Committee Chair. Wendy Grimes is Promotion Committee Chair.

Ex Officio members are Mayor William Cooper, City Council President Turner Townsend, City Clerk Beverly Sweeney, Director of Community Services & Recreation Billy Powell, Director of Engineering and Public Works Barry Mott, Director of Community Relations and Tourism Tammy Doerer, Enterprise Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Erin Grantham and Friends of Main Street President Tracie Gulledge.

In 2018, Enterprise created a position that included tourism and Main Street duties in the job description. The goal of the position was to establish a full-time person charged with marketing the City of Enterprise, fostering a good public image and promoting travel, tourism and downtown development. Doerer was selected and served as liaison between the city, the merchants and Main Street Alabama during the entire application process.

The City of Progress officially became a Main Street Network Community in June 2018, the first step in the process. Whether participating in Main Street Alabama was a feasible option for the city of Enterprise had been discussed since 2017 when Enterprise Mayor William “Bill” Cooper and Councilmen Eugene Goolsby and Turner Townsend met with Gaydos, then Downtown Enterprise Business Association President, DEBA members and a representative from Main Street Alabama.

Two public town hall meetings were hosted to familiarize the downtown merchants, chamber of commerce members, city officials and local citizens with the Main Street Program and in the winter of 2019, Enterprise initiated the work necessary to make application. A Letter of Intent was sent to Main Street Alabama and the Enterprise City Council passed a resolution in support of the application. A team was formed to complete the extensive application and make an on-site presentation in Birmingham. Representatives from Enterprise traveled May 23, 2019 to Birmingham for a special Main Street Alabama presentation at the organization’s state headquarters. Doerer, City Special Projects Coordinator Kay Kirkland and actors from Downtown Enterprise’s Southern Broadway Dinner Theater presented the story of Enterprise to a panel of Main Street Alabama executives.

After the application and interviews were scored, the Main Street Alabama Board consented to the selection of Enterprise and the formal announcement was made on June 3, 2019.

Enterprise was one of four cities selected in June 2019 for official Main Street Alabama City Designation after a five-month application process. The other cities selected at that time were Headland, Calera and the historic Fourth Avenue Business District in Birmingham.

Main Street Alabama stresses public-private partnerships and strategies that create jobs, spark new investment, attract visitors and spur economic growth. “We would like to give a special thanks to our Corporate Partners,” said Montgomery. “These businesses go above and beyond to help make our downtown something to be proud of. They not only help by becoming a contributing member, but they also help sponsor our larger events. Without the generosity of our corporate partners these events would not be possible.

“Downtown Enterprise is the heart of the city, rooted in southern tradition,” said Montgomery. “We also have the wonderful influence of many cultures due to our ongoing association with Fort Rucker, the home of Army Aviation. Enterprise is the perfect blend of both worlds, mixing Southern tradition and cultural diversity.

“Main Street Alabama provides Enterprise with intensive board development, goal setting, work planning, targeted technical assistance and quarterly training related to downtown development, Montgomery added. “Our goal is to revitalize Downtown Enterprise by utilizing the National Main Street Approach™.

“Our Main Street board is fantastic and comprised of a ton of hard workers,” Montgomery said. “But you always need more minds at the table.”

Those interested in volunteering on a Main Street Committee are asked to contact Montgomery at (334) 347-1211 or [email protected].