From rotor blades to blades of grass, the City of Enterprise and Fort Novosel Monday entered into an Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA) for maintenance at Shell Army Heliport.

Mayor William E. Cooper joined United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel Commanding General Maj. Gen. Michael McCurry to sign the proclamation at the Army Aviation Museum on Fort Novosel. 

“Through this agreement for ground maintenance services at Shell Army Heliport, we can show our support by ensuring our servicemen and women have the best looking, manicured airfield in the area,” Mayor William E. Cooper said. “Our Enterprise Parks and Recreation team take incredible pride in their work. I can promise you that same level of care and pride will continue on post.”

Congress enacted legislation in 2013 creating the IGSA, allowing the military services to form partnerships with local and state governments for the provision, receipt, or sharing of installation and community support services.  As part of the agreement, the United States government will pay the city for one year, with the option to extend for successive one-year periods for 9 additional years.

Maj. General McCurry said the partnership with the City of Enterprise has been going on since 1955, long before IGSAs.  Through the years, McCurry said, the City of Enterprise and Fort Novosel have grown up around each other.

“It is not only fitting that the post and the city are furthering our partnership here today, but also symbolic the growth of Enterprise around Shell,” Maj. Gen. McCurry said. “So, as we go out to surround the citizens of America to protect our nation, the city of Enterprise helps protect our families and we will be forever grateful for them.”

Mayor Cooper agreed, saying “the city is honored to do our part to support our nation’s heroes, one blade of grass at a time.”