‘Big Day For Century’ – Brazilian Manufacturing Company Expanding To Century, Signs Lease

May 11, 2023

‘This is a big day for the Town of Century.”

“It’s a big day for the council and a big day for our new partners that are coming in. We are very excited about having you here.”

That’s how Mayor Ben Boutwell opened a meeting Thursday morning to officially announce a lease signing with  a 50-year of foreign manufacturing company coming to Century.

AlgaPlast Corp. inked a lease for a town-owned industrial park building commonly known as the Helicopter Technology Building. AlagaPlast is the new American subsidiary of Grupa GA230 of Arujá, Brazil.

“We are a Brazilian group; we have been in existence for the last 50 years,” Grupa GA230 and AlgaPlast CFO Marcos Martins told NorthEscambia.com. “We are dedicated to plastic injection products. Our core market is oil and gas products, and gas supply parts. We’ve come into the city of Century in order to increase our supply chain with a unit in the U.S. We are coming to think out of the box and reach different markets, different segments.”

“We have come in here looking for prosperity for us and to bring prosperity to the community,” Martins said.

The company expects their first pieces of large manufacturing equipment to arrive in Century in about August as they work to improve the electrical and other infrastructure in the building.. The hiring process for the first few staff members will follow, and they anticipate up to 25 employees within three to five with an average salary of $46,570 — the median in the Pensacola area.

For more photos, click or tap here.

AlgaPlast’s lease mirrors a recent appraisal — $94,000 annually or $7,833 monthly — with the company paying for insurance, taxes and maintenance with a minimum five-year term. The lease signed Thursday morning has an effective day of June 1. In a special meeting, the town council approved the lease 4-0. Council President Luis Gomez, Jr. did not attend the meeting; no reason for his absence was publically announced.

The town re-acquired the 40,000 square foot 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 company. The building has sat empty since then.

The Florida foreign direct investment economic development project was facilitated by the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance, the economic development organization for Escambia County.

“This will go a long way in helping to elevate opportunities for so many residents and also for the town. Economic development comes with a capital investment in the community,” FloridaWest Business Development Officer Danita Andrews said.

Pictured top: Algaplast Corp. President and CEO Ed Carlos Curvelos (left) and Century Mayor Ben Boutwell sign a lease agreement Thursday morning. Pictured inset: AlgaPlast CFO Marcos Martins. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

7 Responses to “‘Big Day For Century’ – Brazilian Manufacturing Company Expanding To Century, Signs Lease”

  1. Well on May 14th, 2023 10:44 am

    Looks good.
    Who’s next ?

  2. new to Century on May 12th, 2023 1:21 pm

    I am glad “Mr. Gomez’s vision for the future” will now be able to be implemented with part of this new income for Century. Now that there is funding I am hoping Mr. Gomez will finally tell us what it is and have a town vote on it. I am sure that is why he was not at this meeting. He has already starting the ground work for this town improvement.

  3. Bob on May 12th, 2023 11:30 am

    I will believe it when I see it!!! Let’s see how this agreement pans out in the future and how the Town of Century applies the new revenue!!!

    I think this is another train wreck, but we will see.

  4. Common Sense on May 12th, 2023 7:43 am

    Great job Century! This is the kind of things the mayor and council deserve recognition for accomplishing!

  5. Give me a break on May 11th, 2023 7:47 pm

    Congratulations, Century!

    Now is the time for the community to welcome this opportunity and start thinking about how to keep the momentum going.

    I’m hopeful that this is a catalyst for the Town.

  6. Chelleepea on May 11th, 2023 2:53 pm

    Congratulations…….next question! How will the town reinvest the 94k per year revenue??? This is important! You must formulate a plan.

  7. sam on May 11th, 2023 1:47 pm

    glad to see progress in century. hope this goes well.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News