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DeSantis Awards $3.255 Million Grant To Century For Two Community Center Renovations
April 8, 2022
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $3.255 million to the Town of Century Friday for economic development.
The Small Cities Community Development Block Grant will be used to renovate two community centers.
“This is a huge win for our community,” Rep. Michelle Salzman Said. “It is a testament to the mayor working with all levels of the government to get big projects like this across the finish line.”
$1.985 million will be used for the historic Carver Community Center at 7040 West Jefferson Avenue to bring it up to code, renovate the kitchen and bathroom, install HVAC and air purification systems, install a new roof, pave the parking lot and for other building renovations. The former school building was constructed in 1945 [Photo gallery...]
$850,000 will go to the Century Community Center (also known as the Ag Building) at the corner of West Highway 4 and Industrial Boulevard to bring it up to current building code, renovate the kitchen and bathrooms, install a new HVAC and air purification system, install outside lighting and pave the parking lot. The metal building, constructed in 1992 is about 5,000 square feet.
The remainder of the grant will be used for engineering, architectural and administrative costs.
The grant is a significant amount for Century, close to their entire yearly budget minus other grants.
All total, DeSantis awarded $23 million Friday in Northwest Florida for infrastructure improvements and economic development. The $3.255 million for Century was the largest grant awarded.
The Town of Jay also received $300,000 to help with the renovation of the Bray-Hendricks Sports Complex.
Pictured top: Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis (left) looks on as Gov. Ron DeSantis presents a $3.255 million check for economic development to Century Mayor Ben Boutwell. Pictured below: Rep. Michelle Salzman, DeSantis and Boutwell pose during the event at the Indian Pass Raw Bar in Port St. Joe on Friday. Pictured second below: Salzman, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Dane Eagle and Boutwell. Pictured bottom two photos: The Carver Community Center. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
22 Responses to “DeSantis Awards $3.255 Million Grant To Century For Two Community Center Renovations”
It must be close to election time…No time to research what is ACTUALLY needed in Century, or to look into the GROUP OF CROOKS that will be in charge of the money…Pretty typical, we pay taxes so politicians can waste it.
The whole town of century ain’t worth 3.255 million dollars, WHO in their right mind would give Century this amount of money! For absolutely nothing that will help with economic impact! This people! Is exactly where your tax dollars go and if you think that it’s government money!!!! You are crazy!!
That’s a lot of money, sure wish that there was competent leadership directing it.
I’ll bet the entire council will show up at the meetings now.
Rather than putting perfume on a pig I would have gone for dollars to go towards health programs, roads & bridges and overall community improvement focusing on littering citations resulting in community service picking up trash, graffiti removal etc.
Money down the drain, again…
The 2020 census has the population of Century at 1713. They barely need one community center, much less 2. What a waste of money.
WOW! More money to renovate so both can then be vandalized and destroyed. This, as the water meters break, the rats run rampant through the street and the people in “charge” can line their own pockets. Most of them do not bother to show up to meetings or do anything useful for Century! What a joke.
Word is Century already lost the check.
hahahaha 3.2 million, DeSantis the entire town isn’t worth half that. This town couldn’t even get new meters installed in a two year period and they are given 3.2 million to renovate two community centers… Why does a town the size of a can of coke need or have two community centers. I’d follow every dime, this town doesn’t have a good track record with money.
Will there be enough for Xmas lights to lure multi billion dollar corporations to Century here?
Yeah bama. And they could just as well given it to some other town with no benefit to our area. You or I will probably never set foot in either building but many will.
Hopefully a positive impact for many years.
Bad mistake they will have a hay day now it’s about time someone goes in there and see where our money is going, I agree with Melanie just more money for them and nothing will get fixed .
Keep up the good work Mayor Boutwell
Someone won the lottery!!!
So whatever happened to all the money given to the town for road repairs? It’s been quite some time, and the roads are still crap!!!!!
Please find some money to fix bridge on Freedom Dr. Century, Fl.
WOW Bama…I don’t think Mayor Boutwell will let that happen
Good job Mayor Boutwell.
What a joke century is
It’s going to be interesting to see how long it takes to lose that money. I don’t have faith in any Century city leaders.
Great! But can we discuss the fire hydrant in front of mine and my neighbors house that has leaked badly for close to three years. The curb/gutter in front of our house has 1-2 inches of slow running water. In the summer it gets mosquitos in one area. I’ve called over and over with nothing done. I have Town of Century workers drive past my house several times everyday. Have none of them reported the issue? At this point I’ve stopped calling because it does no good. Also the bridge on Freedom Road that’s been out for a couple years.
Bamba said it before I could!
Apparently DeSantis has never heard of the Century town council. It will be interesting to hear how much of the money will be spent on the two renovations and how much will be “loaned” to friends.