New County Boss: Positive Potential Abound In Century

March 21, 2011

There is a lot of positive potential in Century that Escambia County can help promote — that was the word for new Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver as he toured the town.

“There are a lot of assets here in Century,” Oliver said Friday as he toured Century with Mayor Freddie McCall and District 5 Commissioner Kevin White. “Mayor McCall’s got a lot to work with here.”

Oliver said that be believes the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce and Escambia County can help Century locate new business and industry.

Many of Century’s industrial and business properties are complete buildings, and many are move-in, get to work ready. “There’s a huge open door here for us to help Century, Oliver said.

The town’s business incubator, located on East Pond Street, is the former Century High School. Classrooms are converted into individual area for office space or other business uses. There is even a commercial kitchen available. But years after grant funding pair to renovate the buildings, the occupancy rate is exactly zero.

‘There’s potential here,” McCall said. “We just need to get the right people in here.”

Pictured top: Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Kevin White, County Administrator Randy Oliver and Century Mayor Freddie McCall discuss the future of Century while outside Century’s business incubator. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “New County Boss: Positive Potential Abound In Century”

  1. lady on March 22nd, 2011 10:24 pm

    What has our “commissioner” who is supposed to represent us in the North end done for us? Our homeowners are limited on how much land they can sell, it’s hard to get homeowners insurance, one building at Walnut Hill that was supposed to be a part-time health clinic has been made into a Law Enforcement Office and I’ve never seen anyone there occupying, they closed our county office in Century so we have to drive half-way to Pensacola to get tags, license, etc.. Instead of locating the judicial system on 9-mile road where it was proposed to go at one time with plenty of space from an old airfield they make everyone have to drive by the bay where all these offices are located. Why don’t we just get annexed into Alabama where taxes are lower, medical services nearer, insurance easier to get? Yes Pensacola would like to annex not only Century but the whole northend into their kingdom so more taxes could be levied on us.
    We don’t have enough people up here the way they have the electoral lines run to elect an individual from our end of the world;THEY fixed it that way.

  2. John on March 22nd, 2011 9:49 pm

    The only way Century is going to move ahead is for them to have their own commissioner…kevin White is a good ol boy that ,promotes what benifits his interest and those that support him.

  3. bama54 on March 21st, 2011 7:40 am

    If the “Pensacola” Area Chamber of Commerce is involved, then there must be something in it for Pensacola?? Pensacola has been trying for years to annex Century into the county government all for one program. I say Commissioner White should be working hard to bring in jobs for the north end of the county, but if the good ole boys from the downtown get involved then it want be much benefit for the north end. I keep hearing, if we only had amenities (such as sewer, gas and water) then the north end would grow!! Well they (ecua) have moved the sewer plant to the north end, so where is the gas located in the north end? Molino is in a ideal spot for growth, we just need the county to get off their butts and get things started. Anything Cantonment north would be good!!!

  4. Pondering on March 21st, 2011 7:20 am

    The leaders of Oklahoma City hit the nail on the head; if they make the City a place where more people want to live, jobs and growth will follow. That’s an approach worth investigating, Century Leaders! Build on all the reasons that those living in Century and surrounding areas chose to stay!

  5. DAGB on March 21st, 2011 6:00 am

    Kevin White looks lost as usual.

  6. art on March 21st, 2011 5:43 am

    now that is what i am talking about. century is a little jewel. finally people are starting to get it. i wouldnt live in pensacola if you payed me. and a lot of folks want to get out of that mess and move on up to the “country”…it is going to happen and century will be ready.