By Carole Brand - The Enterprise Ledger
Published: July 1, 2008
Enterprise, Enterprise Coffee Geneva Economic Development Corporation, and Wiregrass Rehabilitation Corporation hosted a ribbon cutting on Tuesday on the 5,000 square-foot expansion of the Enterprise Business Incubator.
The building, now approximately 15,000 square foot, currently houses the Enterprise Coffee Geneva Economic Development Corporation and the Enterprise branch of the Wiregrass Rehabilitation Corporation. With the new addition of nearly 5,000 square-foot, the building will now offer more office space to appeal to potential economic development prospects looking to start up their business in the Enterprise area.
Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell and ECGEDC Executive Director Frank Thompson welcomes guests to the ribbon cutting including Congressman Terry Everett, Alabama State Director of USDA Rural Development Steve Pelham, and Jack Sasser, administrator of the Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center.
Boswell said Everett and Pelham had significant roles in getting funding for the new expansion.
The Enterprise Business Incubator was founded as a way of preparing new companies and businesses to enter the market. The incubator provides office space, and start-up room for businesses waiting to purchase their own building, or that are just new to the area.
“Businesses eventually graduate from the incubator and move into buildings of their own, after they have established their business within the incubator,” Thompson said.
Sasser of WRC, said he came to the area in 2003 and “we’ve had a partnership with the city and county ever since then.”
Wiregrass Rehabilitation Corporation, founded in Dothan, seeks to offer vocational rehabilitation to people with disabilities and those reentering the workplace. Sasser, serving as director, said he “is proud of the work WRC does, and will continue to do for the wiregrass community.We serve 100 people and our goal is to have 75 of those employed. Part of the program is to help those with disabilities to be all they can be.”
Currently, workers with the WRC, assist with recycling with the city of Enterprise, have a contract with HSAA, have food and catering services of 150 meals a day for the area’s adult daycare centers and in “six or seven months, we’ll have a commercial laundry service,” Sasser added.
The expansion cost $627,640.12, with $277,880 funded by a USDA grant.
Pelham said the USDA’s investment in Enterprise “is an investment in partnership. We’ve invested in Alabama and in the nation, we’ve invested $91 billion. We’re proud of our investment in assisting special needs people and people who need jobs because what’s important is the self-worth, pride and ownership of their daily lives.”
Everett, Pelham added, was very instrumental in securing funding for the project.
Everett said “it is important and we can see here today how the mix of federal money with local money has accomplished things. The most noble thing a person can do is create a job.”
Boswell commented on the partnership that the city shares with Wiregrass Rehabilitation Corporation, and how they contribute to the city and to the growth of economic development.
“We are very fortunate to be able to share this occasion with WRC because it is a unique partnership we share. The city relies on them for many services, and they also contribute locally to many other businesses. Economic development is really the backbone of a community and helps define Enterprise as the “City of Progress” and I am so excited about this newest addition that will help foster economic development in our city.”