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Identity Update: Century Renames Buildings, Changing Welcome Signs
January 6, 2015
Armed with a new strategic plan, the Town of Century is worked through a bit of an identity crisis, voting Monday night to rename a couple of facilities and look for a new slogan and way to welcome people to the town.
Brice Harris of the University of West Florida’s Haas Center, author of the new strategic plan, recommended the changes at a late December workshop meeting. On his recommendation, the council voted to rename the “Habitat for Opportunity Building”, a former school on Pond Street, as the “Century Business Center”. The complex was redeveloped into a possible business incubator several years ago, but has remained empty.
With a new name, 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.
The council also voted to officially rename the “Ag Building” on West Highway 4 as the “Century Community Center”. Over the years, the building had taken on the Century Community Center name with no action by the council.
Also on Harris’ recommendation, the council voted Monday night to eventually remove “Welcome to Century” signs that welcome visitors into Century from the north and south on Highway 29. The signs, dedicated two years ago, were built by Century Correctional Institution and feature a giant saw blade with the town’s most recent slogan “The Dawn of a New Century.”
“Our image needs to change,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said, noting that the town’s sawmill has been closed for over 50 years. “We are not a sawmill town anymore.” He said the signs would be donated to the local Alger Sullivan Historical Society for use in their museum.
McCall said that the University of West Florida might assist with a new slogan for Century.
“I think the idea should come from the people of Century. It’s going to be a slogan that we are going to be using,” council member Ben Boutwell said. “I think it would be a wonderful idea if we could come up with…some type of slogan from the town.”
On the recommendation of council President Ann Brooks, the council voted to hold an informal contest on NorthEscambia.com and ask the public for new slogan and design ideas to welcome visitors to Century. McCall said he would personally donate a $50 prize for the winner. Details on the contest will be announced soon.
At the December workshop, the council also took aim at changing the town’s website, described by McCall as “poor”, but no action was taken on the website Monday night.
Pictured top and bottom: Formerly known as the “Habitat for Opportunity Building”, the Century Business Center on Pond Street is a key part of the upcoming Century Business Challenge. Pictured bottom inset and below: These sawmill-inspired “Welcome to Century” signs on Highway 29 will be replaced. Pictured top inset: Council members Ann Brooks, Sandra Jackson and Benjamin Boutwell at Monday night’s meeting. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
10 Responses to “Identity Update: Century Renames Buildings, Changing Welcome Signs”
Last month I came to the conclusion that Century hasn’t changed because the people haven’t changed. It’s going to take more than a name change to help those in the communities change. It’s a cycle of generational teachings (curses).I know first hand. I am blessed to see change of this magnitude, against odds. I always tell my family and friends left behind that they are meant to be great leaders and helpers of society, to strive to educate themselves on what’s outside of Escambia county. Positive environments influence people.Instintivly most people tend to follow others. Put that money into jobs, schools training programs our own housing rehab community group. The title of the book means alot but it’s the characters that tell the story.
50 years ago Walt Disney flew over Orlando area and all he saw was orange trees, ranches, swamps and lakes but mostly roads leading into the area and dollar signs He had a dream and now look what Central Florida looks like. One of our resources in Century is a road that comes through here with a average daily count of 10,200 vehicles per day. That’s a 2013 DOT fact. Tourism in Florida brings in over 40 Billion dollars per year. I think we should attempt to capitalize on that.
Thank you Ben, for speaking up. WE the people (who live here) need to come up with a new slogan. Even the high school students might have a contest ??? They could probably come up with some good ones.
Kudos to Century for trying to revamp it’s image. It’s funny to see these comments regarding Century. I grew up in Century but have since moved away. My husband is a military Dr. , hence we move and travel frequently. What I will say is this. Pensacola is no better than Century. ALL of Escambia county is riddled with poverty, drugs and crime. The area as a whole needs help, talk about location. When my husband and I think of retiring, Escambia county is not on the list, and our families still reside there. Here is a link to an article written by Northescambia.com
http://www.northescambia.com/2013/05/escambias-overall-crime-up-highest-overall-rate-in-florida
Just in case the link is removed let me share. “Escambia County’s overall crime rate — 5,656.2 crimes per 100,000 residents — was the highest in the state in 2012, followed by Miami-Dade at 5,129.3 indexed crimes per 100,000 residents.”
Fact, and Century isn’t the reason why the overall Crime rate is so high.
Also, looking at jobs in the area, the wages are much lower in Escambia county than other areas. The whole area needs help.
Century is one of the poorest towns in Florida. Drugs and poverty seems to have claimed this town and no one has been able to change. If you want a productive life move quickly
If you put lipstick on a pig, is it still a pig? Yep, that’s what I thought too. Century will still be Century even with its new window dressing of a few new names for buildings and a sign.
Image is important and I think it is wonderful we are starting to make positive steps in that direction. We have a good idea for a slogan and will submit it.
Yes sawmills and old timey locomotives are a thing of the past. If Century wants to attract new business they have to actually appear to be living in the present age.
Since there seems to be some effort to follow in pensacolas footsteps…..
How bout the “UP SIDE OF ESCAMBIA COUNTY”.
No Really , Don’t.
3 words location, location, location.