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Century Talks Business Climate, Business Challenge
December 19, 2014
Big changes are in store for the business climate in Century as the town works to implement an economic development plan authored by the University of West Florida’s Haas Center.
Thursday afternoon, the Haas Center’s Brice Harris met in a workshop setting with the Century town council, recommending future actions the council should take toward their business goals.
A first step centers around the town’s “Habitat for Opportunity Building”, a former school on Pond Street. The complex was redeveloped into a possible business incubator several years ago, but has remained empty.
Harris recommended that the council start be changing the awkward “Habitat for Opportunity Building” name to something along the lines of the “Century Business Center”. Individual classrooms, each with a door to the outside, will be improved into office space.
One space, Harris suggested, could be rented to the winner of the upcoming Century Business Challenge for a reduced rate of $1 per year as part of the winner’s prize that will also include $25,000 in startup cash from Quint and Rishy Studer. Details on that contest will be forthcoming in January.
Another office space would be used by an Americorp volunteer working for the town and by the Haas Center, and another office could be shared by community non-profits providing regular services such as the United Way or Northwest Florida Legal Services.
“I think it’s the beginning of a new year 2015, and it’s great thing for Century,” council member Sandra McMurray Jackson said.
“We are ready, willing and able to cooperate,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said.
The council and Harris also discussed a redesign and upgrades for the town’s website, which was described by McCall as “a poor website”. The website work would possibly be performed by an Americorps volunteer.
Century’s current website was developed by an area marketing firm in 2012 for $5,950, part of a $11,450 package that also included a five year comprehensive marketing strategy. Also at the workshop Thursday, the council and Harris discussed transportation improvements, and even new signage at the town’s limits.
Any action items discussed at Thursday’s workshop must be approved by the council during an upcoming regular meeting.
Pictured top: Century Economic Development Coordinator Allison Tyler listens as Brice Harris of the Haas Center addresses the Century Town Council Thursday afternoon. Pictured inset: Council member Gary Riley listens to the discussion. Pictured bottom: A portion of Century’s Habitat for Opportunity complex. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
5 Responses to “Century Talks Business Climate, Business Challenge”
Here we go again Century. Century is what it is and never will change LOL. Everybody thinks they can have a business in Century and make money and jobs for people. #1. Biggest business in Century is DRUGS. #2. Most of the people that want a job already have one. #3. Second biggest business is welfare, free housing that the taxpayers pay for. Ask what the price of a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment goes for in Century that is subsidized. Places that are around 30 years old like the Woods get close to if not over a $1,000.00 a month for all their units. 80% of the residents don’t pay anything for rent. Some even get checks for living there. I have heard the people that live there brag about it. They call it their party money LOL. The taxpayer pays for all of it plus they get their grass cut for free, maintenance for free because nobody is going to pay for what they tear up. Their trash gets picked up by boys who have to fix everything also. Great place for the drug dealers to hide out and sell their wares also. The one across town is worse than the Woods they say. I think all the lights outside blew or got shot out at the Woods it use to be bright out there at night. Lots easier to hide and deal that way. #4. Disability or SSI is the next one on the list for the people of Century. Get hurt and get disability because your back hurts. All of that comes from SS that you pay. They get more than people that have worked all their lives. You can get it even if you have never worked. Addicted to drugs is a disability LOL. Century never will be anything just like it has been for years.
I hate to be so Hard but buildings like the Old school (Allis, Carver High School, Carver Middle School and now the incubator building) Should be Bull dozier down along with the old Century High School on Hecker road. The property cleaned and made ready for Something to be built Worth while. Trying to make something out of nothing, the cost involved to remodel and the out dated heating and cooling systems continue to be nothing but a bottomless pit of expense. All this is not to mention the eye sore that continue to stand. Come on Century, City and the People of, take pride and clean up………………….
If the mayor himself thought the website was poor, maybe the city can get some redesign comp’d back to them. After all 6 grand is a lot to.pay for something you are not happy with.
and that’s what it’s all about.
Good for Century! I see them making progress in a sensible way….while Pensacola continues downhill.