Century Seeks $400K To Capitalize On Polluted Sites

January 9, 2014

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Century is applying for $400,000 in grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help manage and further capitalize on the town’s Brownfields designation.

Brownfields are properties where expansion, redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of environmental pollution.

In late 2005, the Century Town Council took advantage of a state provision allowing them to expand the Brownfields designation to the entire town as an economic development tool.  The designation provides bonuses for job creation, loan guarantees, sales tax credits and other incentives for qualified businesses to locate in the town.

If awarded, the $400,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant would provide funding to develop inventories of Brownfields, prioritize sites, conduct community involvement activities and to conduct site assessments and cleanup planning related to Brownfields sites.

Established in 1997, the Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Program utilizes economic and regulatory incentives to encourage the use of private revenue to restore and redevelop sites, create new jobs and boost the local economy. Partners in the Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Program include local governments, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Economic Opportunity and Enterprise Florida, Inc.

In Escambia County, one of the largest Brownfields areas is the entire town limits of Century.

The former Alger-Sullivan Company lumber mill site on Front Street was first listed as an individual Brownfields site, and the designation was later expanded to the entire town.

From about 1900 until the late 1960’s, Alger Sullivan operated their lumber mill on the site. Various companies, including Wayne Dalton Corporation, manufactured wooded doors at the facility from about 1971 until 1992. As part of the manufacturing process, the wooded doors were dipped in pentachlorophenol wood preservative; the contamination of the property was associated with a release from the dipping tank.

Cleanup of groundwater and soils was conducted and a conditional closure was issued by DEP in 2009, indicating no further remediation of the property was necessary as long as the registered engineering and land use controls were maintained.

Other companies have expressed interest in the property after cleanup, but none have opened in the facility;  the realtor that represents the property owner said the there are no offers pending on the property.

Century is also an Enterprise Zone, providing qualifying businesses with various additional tax credits and incentives.

Pictured top: The former Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company Brownfield site in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Century Seeks $400K To Capitalize On Polluted Sites”

  1. cygie on January 9th, 2014 12:16 pm

    So with all the economic incentives, what companies have located in Century since 2005? I cannot think of a handful of them that are still in business. It seems that some Century residents already have a sideline business or two.

  2. MattD on January 9th, 2014 8:16 am

    I just relocated to Century last month and live a block from this property. I sure can appreciate the value and sentiment of small towns, but I hope this property can be bought and used in a productive way, even if it means bringing in a large corporation. The goal of economic development help put Century on the map 100 years ago, so it would be good if concerned citizens got involved and helped the Town Council to attract businesses here. The positive underlying effect is the potential possibility of new jobs for local residents.

  3. 429SCJ on January 9th, 2014 6:57 am

    It is sad, when environmental catastrophe becomes a major source of operating capitol for a cash strapped municipality.

    What would they do without those brownfields?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News