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Political, Economic Leaders Tour Century’s Assets
August 25, 2011
There’s a lot of potential in Century that Escambia County and the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce can help promote — that was the word Wednesday as political and economic leaders came together for a whirlwind tour of the town.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall led the tour for officials including Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver, Pensacola Chamber President Jim Hizer, Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Kevin White and the town’s consultant, Debbie Nickles.
The tour included available spaces for economic development — such as the town’s “incubator” building on Pond Street, the old Alger-Sullivan Lumbermill and a vacant property in the Century Industrial Park. They also took at a look at some of what Century has to offer, such as Fischer Landing and Lake Stone.
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: (L-R) Pensacola Chamber President Jim Hizer, Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver, Century Mayor Freddie McCall and Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Kevin White discuss the future of the old Alger-Sullivan Lumber property. Pictured inset: McCall explains the facilities at the town’s Habitat Building. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
13 Responses to “Political, Economic Leaders Tour Century’s Assets”
Mayor McCall appears in my mind to be saying, boys aint nuthin we can do!, lets go get some lunch! Dont give up people, its not over with, till the Lord switchs off the ignition.
DHG you made me laugh, ole Mr. Fisher
Hello David. If you change your mind on district 5, and need a road inspector, Im available. You can keep the paycheck and the county vehicle, all I need is a fuel card.
REGARDING:
” Im thinking people like David Huie and Jean Pettis?”
I live outside the Town limits in Bluff Springs (which already has a mayor, Ronnie Fischer, who I appointed personally) and if you are talking Howard Eugene (Gene) Pettis, I think he lives down near Scenic Highway.
AND:
” I noticed there are many closed stores in Century and wondered the reason for it.”
Every town exists to serve the needs of the people. There were more people in the past and more needs.
Back then the oil industry was more active. Service companies like Brown and Root had plenty of employees. They needed housing, ate at restaurants, kept Crow’s and other bars busy.
There was a town police force.
Starter and Wayne Dalton doors hadn’t moved out after being irritated by stealing by local employees.
Wal-Mart’s didn’t exist so close to us. It was cheaper to buy locally than to drive the distance. Al Gore hadn’t invented the Internet and online shopping.
The building industry was needing a lot more lumber and sand and gravel to supply it than they do now. It will pick up but they are over-built at the moment.
People had to go to the food stamp office to get benefits so some had to be closer since they didn’t have transportation. That made some closer but drove others off, just as public housing does.
Paul Wood had the Century Drive In, there was no satellite entertainment to speak of. Cars were big enough that you could enjoy being at the movies.
No zoning regulations shut out new businesses and stopped them from starting.
If you can’t serve people, they have no reason to bother with you. If you can, you grow
David considering a few causes
and solutions
Maybe its just me, but I never hear much about festivals or anything of that nature, in Century. Even Cantoemint (indulge me David), has a sausage festival. I hate to say it but maybe we need some new blood in these offices. New efforts, new ideas. Im thinking people like David Huie and Jean Pettis?
Agree with the below comments. Everyone talks about potential, yet we see nothing being done. Town government HAS to perform better in promoting how great a town we have, and the benefits a business could develop by relocating here in Century. When is the next town hall meeting?
I have never seen Ole Kev at anything except a political rally!
VOTE HIM OUT!
Yes, we do need another north/south corridor, and yes Century needs there schools back!
@Just me
I so agree with you.
Look at Kev..he’s lookin good haven’t seen him up this way in about eight years, guess he had to make one last stop before we vote him out.
I asked a friend this question and she lives in Century. Is Century a better place today than it was 20 or 30 years ago ? I noticed there are many closed stores in Century and wondered the reason for it.
Election is what it is all about. Freddie is running for the Oct election and good ole Kevin next year. If they wanted to really help Century they would try to get our schools back and all the other services that have been taken out of Century. No one wants to come to a Town that is slowly dying
Ol’ Kevin made a trip to Century….Must be election time… Hope he got stuck in the traffic on Hwy 29 like rest of us, since he voted against another North South Corridor.. Of course we all know he would not make that trip during peak traffic hours, so he doesn’t see a problem..
Anyone else in 2012..!!!