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With 97 Percent Of Funding From Escambia County, Century Chamber Watching Budget Cuts
July 10, 2017
When 97 percent of your operating income is on the line, talk of Escambia County Commission budget cuts can be worrisome.
For months, board members of the Century Area Chamber of Commerce have pondered how to increase chamber income — for instance, gaining more paid memberships — and how they might react in the event their funding from the Escambia County Commission should be cut.
During the current fiscal year that ends September 30, the county provided a $55,000 allocation to the chamber, up from $40,000. The chamber anticipated just under $3,000 in additional income this year for a total budget income of $56,585.02, according to county documents. That’s just over 97 percent of funding from the county and just less than three percent otherwise.
With word from commissioners that outside agencies may be on the budget chopping block, there’s obvious concern at the Century Chamber.
So what exactly did tax payers get for their $55,000 this year? According to the chamber, their accomplishments included:
- 6-7 new chamber memberships
- Annual employment increased from 39 to 45 percent
- 4-10 business inquired about startups
- Graduation levels were increases 9 percent
- A 10 percent increase in the previous year’s 35 Century Welcome Center visitors.
- There were five job openings last year, until the announcement of 20 part-time jobs at a new bingo hall.
- There were four housing starts, until the EF-3 tornado destroyed a large number of homes, leasing to over 50 new housing starts
Last year’s $55,000 from Escambia County was used by the Century Chamber for an economic development coordinator, an office coordinator and attendance at economic development symposiums. The balance of the current fiscal year’s funds will used for marketing, website management and other professional services.
If funded again for the next fiscal year, the chamber plans to continue using the money for economic development and coordination efforts, to expand the attraction and retention of small businesses, enhance training opportunities and work with other economic development organizations to develop partnerships and opportunities.
The Century Chamber is planning a two-day, seven hour workshop weekend later this month to discuss how to grow the chamber and its future direction.
The Escambia County Commission will begin budget hearings on Tuesday, including a look at outside agencies.
Comments
13 Responses to “With 97 Percent Of Funding From Escambia County, Century Chamber Watching Budget Cuts”
Here’s a idea, have a website where restaurant is not misspelled.
>>>What does the COC have to do with graduation rates? Why would you include this arbitrary information?
Not sure who are posing the question to…but we included in the article as one of their claims because they made the claim in writing to the BOCC.
What does the COC have to do with graduation rates? Why would you include this arbitrary information?
Grants are available if someone would go after them. I know that to be a FACT!
First, find people there that WANT to work, Then, spend money on trying to attract some big business like manufacturing that will put the people to work so they can support their own town. Good luck finding people that want to work. I do not know if there are many there now that understand the concept. I did hear (firsthand) , two teenage girls discussing how many babies they needed to have in order to draw enough money from the government for themselves, so that they did not have to work.
Maybe some real education in things that would really be useful would produce graduates that have the knowledge they need to succeed. This does NOT include the Marxist concept of Common Core. Since we now have a President that says he is for putting our country first, some business that produces QUALITY US products would be a good thing IF they could find workers that would take pride in their work. And, one that would be fair and give their employees real incentive for doing a good job. Keep giving handouts……..even sparse ones, and it will just me more of the same, and probably worse. For it to turn around, start with teaching residents HOW to succeed, and giving incentives to do so.
“4-10 business inquired about startups” I wonder if their inquiry came before or after they toured the city?
Just make necessary cut backs on spending————like citizens have to do.
Let’s add this up, 35 visitors, and 20 part time jobs at the bingo parlor. What in the world did the Chamber do to influence graduation rates? The Chamber should be put in the same category as the Town of Century, and cease to exist. That way the rate payers and tax payers would save some real money.
would like to know the unemployment rate and the average household income . how much grant money has the town received in the last year ? might want to turn off the lights and lock the door .
“”here’s what needs to be on the chopping block .. Splash Pad.”"
That’s a city thing, not a chamber of commerce thing
Please do explain the Graduation part. Also what does a FREE visitor center do? Besides use electricty and water plus ground maintence that someone (tax dollars) have to pay for
Century is just like Atmore ,on a fast downward spiral. As a person that would love to start a business ,why would anyone want to build in a dead city, If anyone has common sence they’d never build one there or Atmore.
Then you say the board members increase? I say get up and walk away
here’s what needs to be on the chopping block .. Splash Pad. wasted money on
and electric, ALL city council ,It has no one truly cares about the city.
I came in from headed north on 29 and it’s like you have arrived in a slum as soon as you cross the line. Not a thing to say to people Hey move here and live a beautiful life. Lights out don’t forget to shut the door when you close up
Well, I don’t think the County would have placed themselves in this position if they would have used a little common sense in their budgeting. Here are some problems I have noticed:
* The decision to pay over $100,000 per month to outside County Sheriff’s to house our inmates after the jail explosion. Wouldn’t it have been cheaper to purchase fencing and put them in tents? It is jail and it isn’t meant to be comfortable.
* The decision to purchase a shopping plaza and adjacent land at Fairfield/Pace for a new jail expansion. The economic impact of the displaced businesses and well as the waste of funding. The cleaned and certified “Superfund Site” on Palafox at Beggs Lane is certified clean by the EPA and the County already owns it. The second choice should have been the County owned “soccer” land at 29/W that was the subject of corruption 20 years ago and still sits vacant.
I’m curious what the chamber of commerce had to do with graduation rates??
Ten percent increase in visitors to the welcome center sounds impressive until you realize that is only 3.5 people and the annual total is still under 40.