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Business With 40-60 Jobs Considers Century Industrial Park Location
July 18, 2017
The former Helicopter Technology building in the Century Industrial Park is being eyed by a business that would bring dozens of jobs to the town.
“We have a serious business inquiry, ” Danita Andrews, director of business development for the economic development group FloridaWest, told the the Century Town Council Monday night.
While the company’s name and exact plans will remain secret for now, as allowed under Florida law, Andrews (pictured left) said the company would bring 40-60 jobs to town if it should choose Century. She said Century is not the only location in the area being considered by the company.
Andrews asked the Century council to fund an appraisal of the building at an estimated cost of $3,000 to $4,000. After some discussion, the council voted to spend up to $2,000 for an appraisal, with FloridaWest chipping in a 50 percent cost share for the balance.
Andrews said she hopes to return to the council in the coming weeks with more details on the potential business.
The FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance is the region’s economic development organization.
The former Helicopter Technology building is a 40,000 square foot office/warehouse building with full climate control, sprinkler system, new HVAC and new energy efficient lighting. The town re-acquired the industrial building at public auction for less than $1 out of pocket back in August 2009, following the town’s foreclosure judgment against the now defunct Helicopter Technology.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
4 Responses to “Business With 40-60 Jobs Considers Century Industrial Park Location”
I hope this is not a political ploy because the BCC is calling to cut FLWest out of the budget right now.
I hope they are not getting the people’s hopes up. I hope they will deliver.
These private/public partnerships receive taxpayers money for development, and place funds in their 501 (c).
By law FLWest is not required to let the public privy to their business practices right away. This raises questions and suspicions of their business practices and model of Economic Development.
I would hope Century would tell FLWest to pay the appraisal out of their own funds The Art of the Deal. If not the town of Century could be adding to the salaries of the people at FLWest. It’s hard to know and a gamble.
I imagine it is a hard choice and Century did get a large ED grant so I suppose it comes out of there.
Why wouldn’t a business just contact Century Chamber of Commerce or the town directly? Could it be they have a poor website and do not market themselves sufficiently? The CC budget is being considered to be cut also. They have not worked to even clean up the gateway into town, so I can see where they may be ineffective actually.
Do you support keeping economic potential via these partnerships alive? If so call your county commissioner and let them know. I think it is worth it. If not funds go to the beach for 25 Million $$ roundabouts and helicopter fields in Beulah and elsewhere. Might this help the citizens to keep this potential alive in NorthEscambia, Century and at the Bluffs in Cantonment?
I am watching, and say give them more time to prove themselves before I decry their usefulness.
Get a business open in Century.
Florida West gets $550,000 per year from the County, $150,000 per year from the City (Pensacola), and $40,000 per year from ECUA. They have been supporting this and still should.
I hope something come here in Century I can try to get on been driving to Atmore 16 years want something closer home with insurance.
Wonder if they can use an old appraisal http://www.northescambia.com/2009/08/century-wants-to-keep-foreclosed-building-unless-someone-has-800000
When opportunity knocks, open the door and welcome it. This could possibly attach others to fill the economic/job void in Century.