Comments on: Century Chamber Director: ‘I’d Really Like To Talk To The Mayor’

By: Billy Howard

Billy Howard — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 13:21:41 +0000

Century just needs the enough fishing poles, we can catch our own fish! Development takes time, it does. I like what the Mayor is doing- actually even what the whole council is doing. They are talking, and exploring ideas. The request in the story sounds genuin, until you start names are inserted especially when Lumon May wants to get involved so eagerly. Bad Deal. Stay Away from May! I don’t know the Mayor personally, but I think the Century Mayor approach is to listen to the town’s citizens and cancel out the politicians. That’s a great idea really. The fact is that too much beuracracy can silence the voice of the people within the town. Barry may a good reprensentative up the chain, but it will be this small local group that really gets the ball rolling here.

Folks we have to stop expecting handouts from politicians. They want the publicity to appear as if they are saving the day. We don’t need an entire town welfare program granted from county commissioners where the citizens become dependent. Let’s keep working with the Mayor and our council to bring ideas to the table and keep our town cooperating from the inside. Mayor Hawkins, keep listening to the citizens within the town, keep exploring channels to get grants (not loans) and funding from private entities, bring jobs in, and do not get consumed by politicians with selfish agendas.

By: jeeperman

jeeperman — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 14:31:26 +0000

The Chamber of Commerce is not any entity of the local government.
It is a “country club” of local business owners and entities.
It is not common practice for a local government to give away local taxpayer funds to groups so that they can exist year after year with no results.
Many C of C;s, being local clubs of business people, end up being protectionist of their own turf. With members making efforts to exclude new business that may be competitors for them or their employees.

By: Citizen

Citizen — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 01:58:23 +0000

Don’t forget about this, restart

http://www.haas.uwf.edu/Content/Town%20of%20Century%20-%20Economic%20Development%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf

By: Resident SD

Resident SD — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 00:21:13 +0000

It matters not that I agree with some of these comments and not with some others, because they all have the right to express their opinions, just as I am doing.

There are some facts, however, that are critical to the common good of all in this area. The Town of Century is the northern gateway into Escambia County and Florida. It does not project the image we should all want it to project. There is a lot of poverty and no real measurable economic development here. There are no major businesses begging for permission to open up shop here. There are still empty, abandoned former business buildings along Century Boulevard. Both the Town Leadership and the Chamber of Commerce, have largely been ineffective in improving economic development and bringing in new businesses. The Town leadership and the Chamber of Commerce generally do not work together. They also generally do not work with Escambia County to receive any assistance they can get there.

The Town and the Chamber first need to get their own acts together. Neither has a functioning, accurately informative, up-to-date website. They also need to set aside any petty and personal differences – and there are some. They should work together, as well as with the county and the citizens of this area to bring about economic development, cultivate the workforce, bring new businesses here, facilitate the growth of regional industry, and enhance the quality of life for the residents of the Town and surrounding communities.

The Town, the Chamber, the County, the Citizens, and the Media – working together can do so much. Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. Some uncommon results for this area are long overdue.

By: Resident SD

Resident SD — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 00:18:01 +0000

It matters not that I agree with some of these comments and not with some others, because they all have the right to express their opinions, just as I am doing.

The Town, the Chamber, the County, and the Citizens – working together can do so much. Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. Some uncommon results for this area are long overdue.

By: Chris in Molino

Chris in Molino — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 18:58:47 +0000

@Chris—Resident is right. Look at the downtown clique. Same story. A lot of these boards, groups, and organizations don’t do a damn thing but hang out. Hell, I think the story itself backs up Residents comment. “The group discussed possible collaboration efforts between the Century Chamber and Gulf Coast African American Chamber” WOW, why is there a group of people who felt the need to start their own Chamber ?
Nomatter though. Century will remain poverty stricken unless there’s big money involved. That’s the only way powerful local white people will be involved.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 17:15:29 +0000

That’s a hard working mayor if he mows the streets. How did this become a race issue, if you said “Not trying to make this a race issue at all” and then had four more paragraphs about race and “white elitists?”

By: Citizen

Citizen — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 16:42:15 +0000

I was watching this on ECTV last night. It was real sweet and this was in answer to a line of questioning. I bet she had no idea so many were watching. Century has the ear and support of our BOCC. This is our opportunity to come together and not dwell on the drama. It’s a good thing, time to come together, we probably all want the same thing in the long run. This is a time of opportunity and growth and change, in both attitudes and responsibilities. It’s all good.

I believe the higher ups see a disconnect and dysfunction on many levels, it’s there. Connect, easy as that.

I also believe there maybe old rivalries that serve none of us. Let’s put them in our past and work together regardless of color. It’s an open session and each has their own strengths and abilities. Lets use them– for the greater good.

They also pointed out Century being a municipality is an advantage, the league of cities can be utilized.

Look to our comprehensive plan as a strategy. We need web sites. etc

We really are poised at a place in time for good things to happen. it’s up to us.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 14:57:14 +0000

The obvious lack of concern/participation by Century officials speaks volumes as to why the town is still stuck in the sawmill era.

By: Resident

Resident — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 14:56:18 +0000

Maybe the problem is not the mayor here…maybe the problem is the chamber of commerce. Remember the article about what the chamber has done with our tax dollars over the past year? Really nothing but pay Mrs. Etheridge $40,000 per year.

Not trying to make this a race issue at all, but the chamber board is elitist all-white group made up of mostly people from *outside* the Century business community like reps from Gulf Power, EREC, economic group of the week and Century. With the exception of Mrs. Mary B from the restaurant/store, there’s no local business person on the board. Just corporations that do business in Century. The local business community is not all-white.

Our mayor and council, or the previous mayor and council, were not all-white elitists. They are a diverse group. Business is not all-white.

So the chamber board locks themselves up in their little house, serves a nice lunch and makes closed door decisions on how to spend tax dollars. They don’t even sell but a handful of memberships….97% of their funding was from the county.

It’s time the Century Chamber stops being a lunch club and become an viable agency.

Meanwhile. Hawkins and the town have their pulse on everyday economic development on the street in Century Hell, Hawkins walks the streets, mows the streets and knows what’s going on. He’s not an elitist all-white lunch club powered by taxpayers.

Best of luck, Mr. Hawkins.