08/03/2026
Visitors strolling through historic Downtown Enterprise will notice a fresh new look as nearly 30 businesses have installed decorative blade signs through the Main Street Alabama Façade Grant Program.
Main Street Enterprise was awarded a $20,000 grant to help fund the project, which provided businesses with new awning-mounted or wall-mounted blade signs featuring their business names or logos. The rectangular and oval signs project outward from storefronts, making businesses easier to identify for pedestrians while adding visual interest throughout downtown.
"These new blade signs do much more than identify our local businesses—they create a more welcoming, walkable and vibrant downtown experience," said Lily McDaniel, Executive Director of Main Street Enterprise. "When visitors can easily spot shops and restaurants as they stroll down Main Street, they're more likely to explore, discover new businesses and spend more time downtown. This project enhances the unique character of our historic district while supporting the merchants who make it such a special destination."
Mayor William E. Cooper said the project demonstrates the City's continued commitment to investing in downtown and supporting the local businesses that drive Enterprise's economy.
“Downtown is the heart of our community, and investments like these help ensure it remains a place where businesses can thrive and people want to gather," Cooper said. "Supporting our downtown businesses is an investment in the future of Enterprise. Improvements like these enhance the character of our historic district, encourage people to explore our local shops and restaurants, and build on the momentum of our ongoing downtown revitalization efforts."
The project follows action by the Enterprise City Council, which adopted an ordinance on Dec. 2, 2025, establishing regulations for blade signs within the city. A blade sign is a business sign mounted perpendicular to the face of a building, allowing it to be easily viewed by pedestrians traveling along a sidewalk. The ordinance establishes clear and uniform standards for blade signs to ensure they are safely constructed, appropriately sized and visually compatible with the buildings and districts in which they are installed.
When properly designed and installed, blade signs enhance the visibility of local businesses, contribute to pedestrian-oriented design and support ongoing downtown revitalization efforts. The ordinance includes standards for vertical clearance, projection from buildings, size, quantity and overall design. Blade signs must maintain a minimum vertical clearance of eight feet above the sidewalk.
In addition to the blade sign project, grant funding also supported the installation of a new entrance sign at The Nook, further enhancing one of downtown Enterprise's community gathering spaces.
Originally developed through a partnership between the Main Street Enterprise Design Committee and Young Main Street Committee, The Nook transformed a small Enterprise Public Library parking lot into a welcoming public space and the home of Main Street Enterprise's Small Box Shop business incubator.
Today, The Nook serves as a year-round gathering place for residents and visitors and plays an important role during downtown events, including the Spring Festival, Boll Weevil Fall Festival and Whoville Celebration. The space also hosts live entertainment, including the popular Nook at Night concert series, where local musicians perform free outdoor concerts for the community.
The blade sign project reflects Main Street Enterprise's continued commitment to strengthening downtown through strategic improvements that support local businesses while enhancing the experience for residents and visitors alike. For more information about the Main Street Enterprise program, visit Downtown Enterprise
