Century Receives First Half Of $924,576 In American Rescue Plan Funds

October 4, 2021

Century has received the first half of $924,576 from the American Rescue Plan.

The first half of the town’s award totaled $462,288. The second half will arrive in about one year.

To date, the town council has not discussed how to spend the money, but there is plenty of time left to decide. All funds must be allocated by December 31, 2024, and all expenditures must be complete by December 31, 2026.

The funds provide eligible governments such as Century with a substantial infusion of resources to meet pandemic response needs and rebuild a stronger, and more equitable economy as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Treasury, the funds may be used to:

  • Support public health expenditures, by, for example, funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral health care, and certain public health and safety staff
  • Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector
  • Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic
  • Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors
  • Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet

Within these overall categories, recipients have broad flexibility to decide how best to use this funding to meet the needs of their communities.

Escambia County will receive a total of $61.7 million from the American Rescue Plan. The county has received the first payment of about $30.9 million with the second payment to arrive in 2022.

Comments

24 Responses to “Century Receives First Half Of $924,576 In American Rescue Plan Funds”

  1. B on October 7th, 2021 5:15 pm

    Let the squandering begin!

  2. Citizen on October 6th, 2021 12:16 am

    Great!!
    Glad to have the extra revenue. :)

  3. Hmmm on October 5th, 2021 12:33 pm

    And kids, that’s how all the Century council-people and mayor became “essential workers.”

  4. Mr. Reality on October 5th, 2021 12:08 pm

    hUMMMM….iF THEY GOT THIS MILLION, THEN WHY DO WE, THE COUNTY TAXPAYERS HAVE TO FOOT THE $500,000 FOR THEIR WATER TREATMENT REPAIR, WHICH THEY SHOULD BE DOING ANYWAY…

  5. GEESH on October 5th, 2021 8:43 am

    Give it a couple of months and we will hear , ” What $924,576 ? I didn’t see that $924,576 . Did you see that $924,576 ? ” It is really interesting that there is never a council member that addresses the citizens when these kind of things are reported. The council never publishes a budget as to where the money will go. But, hey politics are no longer about what’s best for the people and who can do the job, it’s a popularity contest. All them cool cats and cool kittens seem to be doing a bang up job .

  6. Well on October 4th, 2021 8:31 pm

    I wonder what Flomaton got ?
    A really big fireworks show would be a lot better than some other things I can think of…..

  7. Kate on October 4th, 2021 4:02 pm

    The most to blame…the citizens who vote and allow this sham town to run like it does. They all deserve what they voted for…and will continue to do so.
    The state of Florida is no better!
    Birds of a feather flock together

  8. Things not what they seem.... on October 4th, 2021 12:05 pm

    This Town Council that is in control now has no idea how to use or disperse these funds! One half the council never shows up to debate or listen to items of interest for the town. They just call in at the last minute and vote on something that they have no idea about. The other half that does show up either do not have a clue or like Luis Gomez are there for show of authority. We have a very sad excuse for decision making up there. I did not vote for anyone on the council but I did vote so I feel that I have a right to complain. I love Century and it breaks my heart to see such incompetence in charge of our town!

  9. Good grief on October 4th, 2021 11:05 am

    Well I guess the Council’s Christmas money just came in.
    This one will have a new car, that one a renovated home.
    The city will not see much of this at all.

  10. Kane on October 4th, 2021 10:44 am

    Given the Century town council’s history with shenanigans I feel as a taxpayer that this money should come with a custodian that has the authority to ixnay any cockamamie plans they come up with.

  11. Dewayne on October 4th, 2021 10:14 am

    Do you understand what kind of fireworks and loans can be made with this.
    The new age pawn shop

  12. REsident on October 4th, 2021 10:04 am

    “Escambia County would likely let the town broadcast the meetings on its Channel 4 on Cox Cable.”

    Which absolutely NO ONE in Century can watch. So that would be a waste of time (and possibly money) of no benefit to Century residents.

  13. CJ Lewis on October 4th, 2021 10:00 am

    A good use of a small part of the money would be to install video recording equipment in council chambers. The town could record its public meetings, post them live for the public to watch and make them available for review later. If asked, Escambia County would likely let the town broadcast the meetings on its Channel 4 on Cox Cable.

  14. SueB on October 4th, 2021 9:52 am

    Request the Fla Governor to appoint a committee to oversee the spending. With all these complaints about Century & the County Commissioners.
    This is how Century will put the money in their pockets with this statement: “Within these overall categories, recipients have broad flexibility to decide how best to use this funding to meet the needs of their communities.”

  15. Bob on October 4th, 2021 8:52 am

    Hmm,

    Don’t bet the house on it!!!

    Century is a perpetual train wreck of corruption!!!

  16. Watch Closely on October 4th, 2021 8:13 am

    Oh boy, read the first 3 bullets. Those sound pretty vague and could easily just be giveaways. The last 2 are clearer. These should really be ranked in priority, with the last one being a heavy first, because of the overall improvement, broader community impact, and lasting value. Please don’t just use the money to line the pockets of well placed friends.

  17. Concerned on October 4th, 2021 8:01 am

    I hate to say it but it’s just more money for them to put in their pockets , it’s a sad situation

  18. Concerned Citizen on October 4th, 2021 7:58 am

    Need a Oversight Committee to regulate the spending, the Town of Century will treat it as Food Stamps. Chrysler 300’s and 20” rims for everyone.

  19. Chris on October 4th, 2021 7:56 am

    I can imagine the loans to council members are lining up already!

  20. Tommy on October 4th, 2021 7:41 am

    This is what is wrong with our government, Let’s reward a town that can not, and has not ran is town, even remotely like it should be ran. The current population of Century, Florida is 1,890 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates. With these figures you could give each Century resident $500.00. Ask them to please spend it in Century and watch the town start flourishing.

  21. sam on October 4th, 2021 7:38 am

    i worry about who has their fingers in this money. six months from now it may have disappeared.

  22. Theclownshow on October 4th, 2021 6:42 am

    Headline on July 4th, 2022:
    Town of Century spent $462,288 on dud fireworks for Independence Day celebration

  23. Hmm on October 4th, 2021 6:06 am

    I hope the funds are used to make much needed improvements to the town. Making improvements to water, sewer and broadband would be great to see.

    I hope this isn’t used for more “loans” to town residents or employees, or spent in a frivolous manner. I’m hoping with the criteria in place to regulate the way it should be spent it help keep the funds on the right path.

    Century needed money, they now have some. Please use it wisely.

  24. Oversight on October 4th, 2021 5:52 am

    Without “oversight”, they’ll be spending like drunk’n sailors and fixing nothing that needs repair. LOL!