The year 2015 was a good year for the City of Brundidge. Maybe even a banner year, said Major Jimmy Ramage.

“We had an outstanding year in 2015 with several events that will have a long-term effect on the people that live and work in Brundidge,” Ramage said. “The city’s highlights were felt in many areas. The city was able to refinance its $6,600,000 prior utility fund debt into a shorter term, lower interest rate that will assist the city by having additional funds available for the general fund. This will save the city millions of dollars over the next 13 years.”

Ramage said in the refinancing, the city was able to get $500,000 released that was being held in reserve in the old issue. These funds will be used to reduce the city’s debt on the industrial land purchased in 2015.

“The city was able to add new jobs for our citizens and the surrounding area with the expansion of our two food processors,” the mayor said. “At the same time, we were able to announce a few food manufacturer in Magnolia Vegetable Processors.”

The city purchased 222 acres of land on the CSX Railroad that will be home to the new plant.

“The project should add close to 75 new jobs in the coming years,” Ramage said. “The land purchased by the city will have as its source of repayment the land tax abatements that matured in 2014 from Walmart DC.”

The City of Brundidge was granted a $2 million loan at 2.25 percent interest from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management that will be used to upgrade its entire wastewater system. The upgrade will give existing industries the opportunity for future expansion, Ramage said.

“These funds will give the city a lower payment than could have been issued from adding this project to our refinancing in the utility fund,” he said.

“The city saw some excellent additions and new ownership to our downtown retail area with Eeztec, Collier’s on Main, Three Frogz and Jackson Hardware. These projects will kickoff 2016. We also saw an increase in sales tax over 2014 which was a very positive and encouraging sign.”

The Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library’s longtime librarian Jean Carroll retired and Teresa Trawick was hired as the new librarian.

“The library continues to be an outstanding asset for our community,” Ramage said.

The city’s recreation department has been contracted to the Pike County Board of Education and broke records with the number of people participating in 2015.

“This partnership has benefited our students by giving them the opportunity to play various sports under excellent supervision,” Ramage said.

The Alabama Tourism Department named the city’s original folklife play, “Come Home, It’s Suppertime” as one of the state’s Top Ten events for 2015. The city’s annual Peanut Butter Festival was recognized in the tourism department’s promotion guide.

The Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival in January was also recognized. The annual festival attracted nearly 1,000 people from seven states. Also, more than 700 students from the local schools had an opportunity to attend a storytelling concert.

“The city has been approved and work should start on the sidewalks along S.A. Graham Boulevard and Galloway Road in early 2016,” Ramage said. “The sidewalks will make it safer for citizens that walk on these busy streets.”

The mayor said Brundidge was also fortunate enough to receive several grants to improve the infrastructure in Brundidge and assist in the expansion of local industries.

“All in all, 2015 was a good year for Brundidge,” Ramage said. “We are looking forward to another successful year as other projects are on the drawing board and as we look to more investments in our community.”