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Century Council Extends Unsecured $41K Loan With Urban Development Century YouthFirst Program Cut By ECT
January 17, 2024
Tuesday night, the CEO of the Urban Development Center asked the Century Town Council for more time to repay an unsecured $41,925 loan to the Town of Century, and said she’s looking for ways to keep the YouthFirst Century program alive despite a complete funding cut by the Escambia County Children’s Trust (ECT).
Last year, Escambia Children’s Trust (ECT) awarded a contract to the Pensacola non-profit Urban Development Center for “YouthFirst Century” to serve 750 youth ages 11-18 over a three-year period at a total cost of $1.2 million. In reality, they only reached 30 children in their targeted ages of 11-18. They requested to lower their target age group to just 5-years old, but that was also denied by ECT.
The Town of Century fronted an unsecured $61,925 loan to UDC to purchase items like computers and workbooks. At least $20,000 was recently repaid to the town, according to audio from a council meeting. However, public records requests by both NorthEscambia.com and Rick’s Blog to the town produced no documentation of the payment.
Griffen had proposed that the remaining $41,295 be repaid by December 31, 2023, but that deadline was missed. By phone Tuesday night, she requested an extension to March 31, 2024. Griffen disconnected from the phone call before providing any additional information to the council about her group’s financial condition or reimbursements already received from ECT.
UDC has been reimbursed $164,903.50 by ECT through October, according to records from the taxpayer funded Escambia Children’s Trust, but those funds were not used to fully repay the Town of Century.
UDC has requested a $189,256.70 reimbursement for their first year of operation, despite reaching just 56 children, with less than 30 of those in the target age range. That equals $6,308 per targeted child in the 11-18 age group.
Griffen also hinted that she is looking for alternative funding outside the ECT to keep the program alive.
“The Escambia Children’s Trust has voted not to fund the YouthFirst Century program due to low participation, but I have been talking to CareerSource Escarosa (CEO) Marcus McBride, who is diligently working to see how they can be an asset to the Town of Century and hopefully put something in place.”
The council voted 5-0 extended the repayment date on the unsecured loan until March 31 as requested.
Pictured: The Urban Development League’s Dr. Jessica Griffen introduces YouthFirst Century to a group at the Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church in Century in February 2023. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
13 Responses to “Century Council Extends Unsecured $41K Loan With Urban Development Century YouthFirst Program Cut By ECT”
This reminds me, did Escambia County ever repay the half a million dollars they borrowed from the local option sales tax fund to freeze the Civic center? Even at the time they noted that they didn’t actually have to pay it back….just intend to pay it back — someday.
Century, Fl. makes every city in America look good. The state attorney office looking the other way makes everyone in Florida look bad.
Over and over. Do the same thing over and over and expect a different result: Insanity
Century……the land that time forgot and led by idiots.
I wonder if some of the money from the $1,000,000 Freedom Road Bridge could be used to forgive the loan?
Its time to put Escambia Childrens Trust back on the ballot for another vote. This excessive tax was put upon property owners at a time of unprecedented inflation and looking at past articles in North Escambia the trustees of this tax money do not fully vet recipients before doling out our money. This article is yet another prime example of that.
Can I get a loan? I only want half. I’ll pay it back, I promise.
Of those 30 children–how much was actually spent on them individually?
And what happens when they miss the March 31 deadline? There’s no agreed upon, signed contract, with payment terms. How will Century enforce repayment. TOC can kiss that money goodbye. They won’t see a cent of it.
SO if I’m mistaken please correct me. Someone in Century, I am presuming the Century Town Council, floats a loan to the UDC for $61,925.00, which has to be tax dollar assets. Floated = fronted, unsecured, no collateral (only trust), WOW! There is a claim that supposed $20,00 has has been repaid but this claim is an audio claim, “audio from a council meeting.” Yet no public records have been produced by a to confirm this payment. So without documentation to confirm payment, i.e. bank transfer, check, cash receipt, there has been no payment. It’s only to simple, produce documentation or it’s merely a claim not a fact. A public records request, which is binding, has produced nothing. Who/someone is lying. Where’s the money? Find the money, find the problem(s) or is it the Century City Council just doesn’t record transactions. Without any other questions or comments, where is the money, the $20,000.00? Was it a lie or is the money in someone’s pocket? With recent events in Century regarding the council, the mayor, or the cities ability to function, one thing is clear. The State Attorney’s Office needs to get involved & a probe needs to begin immediately. A full blown criminal investigation.
NO NO write the check!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You got our money now write the check.
That make’s perfect cents keep throwing money at something that’s already proven in Century not to be working?
You are spot on Chris
A story about scammers, being scammed