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$1.3 Million In State Tornado Aid Still Has Not Reached Victims
March 3, 2017
The Town of Century was awarded $1.3 million in state grants for tornado recovery and other housing assistance last November. But NorthEscambia.com learned this week that not a single dime of that money has reached Century tornado victims.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity made $600,483 in emergency funding available for recovery efforts following the February 15, 2016, EF-3 tornado. The application process for Century was basically a formality…the state announced that Century was the only local government eligible to apply for the funds.
Century was also awarded a $700,000 small cities Community Development Block Grant for housing rehabilitation and replacement that can be used for tornado recovery.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity notified the Town of Century that it had been awarded the grants in letters dated November 17, 2016. The DEO letter notified the town that the grant agreement and other required contract documents would be emailed to the town. The executed contract was required before checks would be written.
As of Thursday morning, town officials told NorthEscambia.com that, despite multiple requests, the contract documents had not yet been received by the town. Without the contracts and without checks for $1.3 million, the town had been unable to provide much needed financial assistance to tornado victims, many of which had no insurance to cover their loses.
We contacted the Florida DEO Thursday morning looking for an explanation. Director of Communications and External Affairs Erin Gillespie emailed NorthEscambia.com a short time later, advising that the director of the state program was in a meeting at Cape Canaveral until 2 p.m., and that she was unsure if we would have answers to our questions by the end of the day.
We also contacted Rep. Clay Ingram and the office of Sen. Doug Broxson.
“The grant process is very cumbersome and we are pressuring the agencies involved to streamline the process because the end result, particularly in this case, is that the people in need are not receive the funding in a timely fashion. And that is tragic,” Ingram said.
The Town of Century notified NorthEscambia.com late Thursday afternoon that the Florida DEO had finally emailed the needed contract documents on the $600,483 emergency grant. Town officials said that they expect to execute the contract and have the funding in hand shortly, at which time they should be accepting citizen aid requests.
More information on the aid application process will be posted as it become available.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
8 Responses to “$1.3 Million In State Tornado Aid Still Has Not Reached Victims”
I see that Century is having a workshop to get a website going again.
I have become used to coming here for news of Century but if their own website is successful in addition to this one perhaps they will disseminate information such as this and enlist citizen “warriors” letter writers, and also organize community events asking for volunteers. Perhaps leave a place for Century Suggestion Box.
I suppose the town council meeting are useful also but I have heard some stay away because they do not want to be made fun of on here or have suggestions blow up in their faces if they speak freely or that unintentional consequences come their way.
I too would like to thank you Northescambia.com staffers for you efforts and due diligence in this matter. It was greatly appreciated. As for the TOWN OF CENTURY (city officials as well as residents), closed mouths don’t get fed at the squeakiest wheel gets the oil. So, we as a town have to be active and persistent to stay on top of things. It’s a joint effort not only by City staffers but people who live in this town everyday so keep that in mind and the end will justify the means. Now stay positive and keep your heads up!
I think it was the limelight.
Not impressed with DEO lately. They were needed to come down for a public BCC meeting to give information about the Sector Plan issue we were having and they chose to only meet privately with a couple of commissioners.
Public servants should responsive to the public.
It is a valuable service when the media holds public servants accountable.
Thank you Northescambia for getting involved in this positive way for the Town of Century.
The fact you wrote Rep. Clay Ingram and the office of Sen. Doug Broxson in addition to the phone calls emailed the Florida DEO Thursday morning looking for an explanation and Director of Communications and External Affairs Erin Gillespie.
You set an example that others can follow.
We are very happy to write such letters and make such contact to higher up officials if and when we know of the need and have specific information such as this.
They feel as if just because Century is poor and deteriorated they can get a little piece of the pie when it so rarely comes around.
Perhaps it was the public spotlight being cast on it that caused it to move forward.
>>Why did it take William to do what Century’s mayor/council did not do? Basically follow up and ask questions. No surprise Century is in the shape they are with inattentive leadership.
As the story says, Century tried multiple times to get action from DEO…it’s not the mayor/council’s fault. There are other larger cities that have had issues with DEO and slow responses.
DEO just happened to get the paperwork out the same day we asked questions, or DEO reacted different to being in the public limelight from the media.
Why did it take William to do what Century’s mayor/council did not do? Basically follow up and ask questions. No surprise Century is in the shape they are with inattentive leadership.