Century Gets Look At Future Economic Development Plan

April 18, 2014

The Century Town Council got a sneak peek at their Economic Development Strategic Plan during a special meeting Thursday afternoon with the Haas Center, the research and consulting arm of the University of West Florida, updating the council on their work over the past several months.

Once finalized, the plan will lay out a vision, a road map of sorts, that will guide Century into their economic future.

Ideas presented by the Haas Center’s Brice Harris included: promoting educational opportunities at locals schools, free financial literacy programs, skills training, anti-poverty initiatives , development of partnerships with organizations that aid low income households and dropout prevention.

The plan also calls for identifying industrial opportunities, soliciting input from local businesses for marketing efforts, developing marketing, pursuit of a daycare program, partnerships with other local communities, improving Century’s “curb appeal”,  expanding available broadband Internet services, Internet subsidies for low income residents, identification of mass transit needs, exploring the benefits of expanding the town limits, and pursuing grants for low income residents.

Also under the strategic plan, Century would work with business networks, provide support and training to local businesses, pursue grant funding to staff business incubator, offer small businesses classes, conduct a feasibility study for a local hotel, increase civic participation in local government, stream council meetings online, publish town council meeting minutes, utilize an online calendar, distribute a town newsletter and institute a youth leadership program. The town would also have an increase social media presence, organize more community events and work with area schools and churches to bring more youth-based activities and sports to Century.

In addition to research, the Haas Center has solicited input from area businesses, residents and other economic development agencies in the region in developing the plan, funded by a $25,000 a Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

Under the grant requirements, the Haas Center is developing an economic and demographic profile report, local and regional market area analysis, accepted input from local and regional stakeholders and soliciting input from a steering committee.

The final draft of the strategic plan is  due to the town by April 30, with an implementation plan and funding matrix to be submitted by May 30.

Pictured top: Brice Harris of the University of West Florida’s Haas Center provides a look at Century’s new Economic Development Strategic Plan during a Thursday afternoon meeting. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “Century Gets Look At Future Economic Development Plan”

  1. cygie on April 19th, 2014 9:45 am

    Just what Century needs is a hotel. Because all those tourists who shop there have no place to stay.

  2. BT on April 18th, 2014 4:30 pm

    Them consultants must know what they’re talking about…they’re from the big city, after all.

  3. southerner on April 18th, 2014 8:03 am

    More socialism is not the answer.

  4. 429SCJ on April 18th, 2014 8:00 am

    Economic development for Century is the plan for the future.

    And always will be.

  5. john on April 18th, 2014 6:48 am

    The Haas Center recommendations sound like they support big government and more welfare programs for free this and free that kind of sounds like the same language coming out of Capital Hill.

  6. Jane on April 18th, 2014 3:50 am

    Seems like Century is trying a lot harder than the County Commissioners to do something positive.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News