Kay Ivey appoints Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell as Director of ADECA

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Kenneth Boswell
Kenneth Boswell

Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell to be the new head of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) on Friday.

Ivey’s action followed Thursday’s announcement that former ADECA Director Jim Byard was stepping down from the position.

Ivey said she was proud to appoint Boswell to the position, “because he understands the needs of local communities and is fully committed to transparency and openness. His distinguished tenure as mayor shows that he understands the importance of leading local communities in economic development and he will be an asset to the people of Alabama.”

“ADECA provides valuable support to our local communities, improving the quality of life of our people through overseeing important economic development projects, infrastructure improvements and job training, in addition to managing all federal grant dollars,” Ivey added. “ADECA’s mission is important to Alabama’s success.”

Boswell served as Mayor of Enterprise since 2003 and was originally elected to the Enterprise City Council in 2000. During his time as mayor, Enterprise has been a hub of economic growth in Alabama. In 2014 alone, five companies either relocated to Enterprise or expanded their existing operations by investing more than $37 million while creating at least 545 jobs.

“I am thankful Governor Ivey places trust in me to lead ADECA for the greater good and advancement of the state. I will bring to the agency the same work ethic and drive that I have given the City of Enterprise for the previous 17 years,” Boswell commented. “ADECA has significant responsibility, and I will see to it that the agency and its team work hard.”

Boswell will officially begin on May 15, 2017.