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Company Interested In Century Industrial Building, Possibly Bringing 12-15 New Jobs
June 8, 2022
An out-of-state company is interested in locating in an empty industrial space owed by the Town of Century.
FloridaWest Business Development Officer Danita Andrews told the town council Tuesday night that the company is looking at a potential lease to own agreement for the building in the town’s industrial park, but first they need a current appraisal.
One proposal has been received so far of $3,450 for the appraisal, and FloridaWest will pay for half of the appraisal cost once a bid is accepted.
Andrews said most information about the company is currently confidential, a is allowed under state law for economic development negotiations.
She said the company would bring 12-15 jobs initially with an average wage of $20-$25 an hour. She also mentioned that welders will be required by the business at about $30 an hour.
In addition, she said the company would run business hours, not be a 24/7 operation.
The building was last appraised in 2017 at $550,000, or a rent of $80,000 per year ($6,667 per month). Since that time, the town has made roof repairs and other improvements.
Known as the former Helicopter Technology building, it is a 40,000 square foot office/warehouse facility with full climate control, sprinkler system, upgraded HVAC and 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.
The FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance is economic development organization for Escambia County.
Pictured top: The industrial site known as the former Helicopter Technology build in Century. Pictured inset: FloridaWest Business Development Officer Danita Andrews addresses the Century Town Council Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
12 Responses to “Company Interested In Century Industrial Building, Possibly Bringing 12-15 New Jobs”
“Being Century is not or has not paid taxes on the property..since in the possession..how do they own it?”
Municipal and other governments do not pay property taxes.
Being Century is not or has not paid taxes on the property..since in the possession..how do they own it?
Real Estate costs to own!
I do remember that the people who were interested in this last year or so got aggravated with the run around from the council and they ended up purchasing the messed up sawmill and cleaned it up. Not sure what has come of that but it’s good it is an not a nuisance. Even a blind squirrel gets an acorn every now and then.
I still think rather than set empty the Baxley deal would have been better than nothing. I think the town has very little invested in it.
Maybe they will get an appraisal AGAIN and it will sell. Or maybe they tell the potential buyer to get an appraisal or go with the old one. Propety value has increased.
Why doesn’t the town list it.
@Citizen Lol Unicorn Fart. That is a good one. I will have to use that one day. BUT don’t be fooled. The Baxley deal was sprinkled pixie dust also. Everything that happens with this building is suspicious. What is it with the secret companies that can only guarantee business and jobs only if they can get a rent to own deal? 1 wouldn’t you think an established company ready to relocate and do business could bring real money to the table and purchase outright 2 AND Why would the town sell or lease a building in their industrial park without a long term agreement for that company to stay put. This is looking more like Flomaton’s genius deal making giveaway of buildings, street signs and parking lots to their buddies. I sure hope not and wish something good comes out of it. We shall all see or smell the unicorn soon.
The only legitimate use for this building would be a company that installs water meters, preferably at a pace quicker than 1.667 water meters every 30 days.
Same old, same old. No legit company would want to be based in Century. This has got to be some kind of scam.
Seems to me Florida West does this every year around county budget time and because of laws, they don’t have to be in the sunshine about who the interested party is or isn’t, then they say they need a new appraisal, which is costly for the town then nothing happens.
Florida West gets their 500k or so from the county budget then pays a couple of people 6 figures to basically do nothing.
Council should have sold it to Baxley when they had the chance.
That was real.
This could be a unicorn fart.
I worked in this building before the owner ran out on everyone. I saw he sold the company and all it’s holdings to a Chinese company for a nice profit. He moved the whole business to the Philippines before selling it off. He left everyone holding the bag. This should be a lesson in and of itself.
Hmmm… I wonder if there is some sort of scam network where they let each other know about potential sites and towns that are extraordinarily gullible and easy to scam?
Same old song and dance. Catfish farm, secret grow house. Century will mess this up somehow.
12-15 new jobs, watch out now Century is on the move!
Stick with the lease! if the town sells the building and the company bellies up then you are stuck with a building you can do nothing with but sit back and watch it slowly deteriorate. They could end up with another mess like they had with the old sawmill building. I just don’t have a lot of trust in people who want to come in cloaked in secrecy.