Labor Day By The Numbers: Increasing Unemployment In Escambia County
September 7, 2020
Here’s a look at the latest pandemic employment numbers for Escambia County.
The most recent numbers from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity were released in late August and included employment statistics through the end of July.
The unemployment rate in Escambia County was 9.2% in July, up from 7.9% in June. That represents 13,167 people out of work out of a county workforce of 142,520. One year ago, Escambia County’s unemployment rate was just 3.5%, or 5,126 people.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity announced the Pensacola area private-sector employment decreased by 7,100 jobs (-4.5%) over the year. The industry losing the most jobs over the year was leisure and hospitality (-3,100 jobs). Construction was the only major industry that gained jobs over the year in July 2020 (+100 jobs).
Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 11.3 percent in July 2020, up 1.0 percentage point from the revised June 2020 rate, and up 8.2 percentage points from a year ago. There were 1,125,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 9,975,000.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 10.2 percent in July.
Applicants Needed For Local Community Ambassador Program
September 7, 2020
United Way of West Florida (UWWF) is inviting in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to apply for the 2020-21 Ambassador Program.
Each year, community-minded employers lend key personnel to UWWF to serve as ambassadors. By volunteering their time each month, these individuals help raise funds to meet critical needs in the community – addressing gaps in health, education, and financial stability. Each Ambassador supports between five and eight companies by planning and implementing successful fundraising campaigns.
The Ambassador Program is designed to help participants gain a better understanding of the needs of our local community while building lasting relationships with Escambia and Santa Rosa counties’ current and future leaders. As an ambassador, participants will strengthen their leadership skills, build strong community connections, and be part of something much larger than any one person or organization.
“Being is an ambassador for UWWF was an eye-opening experience,” said Bradley Sanders of Gulf Coast Kid’s House. “Not only did I volunteer and serve my community in a nontraditional capacity, but I learned so much from this experience and the different areas of need within Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.”
Ambassadors volunteer approximately 10 hours per month from September through December. To become an ambassador, download an application at www.uwwf.org/AP. Applications will be accepted through September 15. For more information, contact Campaign Manager, Blaise Moehl, at blaise.moehl@uwwf.org.
Gulf Power Transmission Projects Underway To Improve Reliability
September 7, 2020
Gulf Power is continuing to strengthen the grid to improve reliability in both good weather and bad with a major project on a transmission power line in Escambia County.
The transmission project kicked off at the beginning of the year by replacing wooden poles with 25 concrete poles over an eight-mile stretch of transmission lines located near Gulf Power’s Plant Crist. This summer, the second phase of the project began, which will increase the capacity of the line as well as replace wooden poles with 70 concrete poles. The new concrete poles are 100 to 140 feet tall / up to four feet wide and are built to withstand winds of up to 140 mph.
“As part of the Florida Power & Light family, we’re committed to improving reliability – which is already the best it has been – in both good weather and bad for our customers,” said Mike Spoor, vice president of power delivery for Gulf Power. “We know how important reliable service is for our customers, especially during this time, and we’re continuing to invest in hardening and other upgrades that will make our electric system stronger and more resilient during hurricane season.”
This project is upgrading a section of transmission line that comes out of Gulf Power’s Plant Crist, which is currently undergoing a modernization to convert from coal as its main fuel source to cleaner, lower-cost natural gas. When complete, the Plant Crist modernization will lower carbon emissions at the site by an estimated 40%.
The transmission upgrade project is part of Gulf Power’s plan to spend approximately $600 million through 2022 in capital investments to improve reliability, bring cleaner energy to Northwest Florida and enhance service for customers.
Gulf Power has already upgraded more than 170 wooden transmission structures to concrete or steel, with more planned for replacement in the coming years. Other storm hardening and reliability improvement projects include regular vegetation management trimming cycles, using drones to inspect lines to detect possible issues before they occur and the installation of automated lateral switches to isolate outages and restore power more quickly.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
September 7, 2020
Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings this week:
Monday, September 7
Escambia County Offices Closed for Labor Day
Tuesday, September 8
Technical Coordinating Committee – 8:30 a.m., 222 W. Main St.
Citizens Advisory Committee – 3 p.m., 222 W. Main St.
Merit System Advisory Committee – 5 p.m., 221 Palafox Place, Fourth Floor Training Room
Escambia County Housing Finance Authority – 5 p.m., 700 S. Palafox St., Suite 310
Board of County Commissioners Budget Public Hearing – 5:31 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Navy Federal EDATE Ordinance Public Hearing – 5:33 p.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Wednesday, September 9
Transportation Planning Organization – 9 a.m., 5976 Chumuckla Highway, Pace
Developmental Review Committee - 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Santa Rosa Island Authority Board Meeting – 5 p.m., 1 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach
Friday, September 11
Sick Leave Pool Committee Meeting – 11 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place, BCC Meeting Room
Escambia County, Alabama, COVID-19 Cases Up By 76 In Two Weeks
September 7, 2020
The number of COVID-19 cases in Escambia County, Alabama increased by 76 in the past two weeks.
There are now 1,247 confirmed cases plus an additional 214 probably cases in the county, according to the Alabama Department of Health. There have been 22 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Escambia County, Alabama.
There were 624 people tested in the last two weeks for a positivity rate of 15.2%
Data released Friday by the Escambia County Healthcare Authority shows 540 of the positive cases were tested at Atmore Community Hospital, and 231 received positive results at D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital in Brewton. There were 26 pending test results between the two hospitals.
Molino Fire Responds To Grass Fire In Barrineau Park
September 6, 2020
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a grass fire in the area of Barrineau Park Road and Barrineau Park Lane about 2 p.m. Sunday. There were no structures threatened, and no injuries reported. It took about an hour to contain the fire. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
USGS: There Were Actually Two Earthquakes Last Week Near Century
September 6, 2020
The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed Saturday that there were actually two earthquakes last Thursday near the Florida/Alabama state line.
A magnitude 3.8 earthquake at 10:07 a.m. was centered just south of Old Highway 31 near Pollard, Alabama, or about 4 miles northeast of Century. The quake was felt across a wide area.
NorthEscambia.com received hundreds of reports of the ground shaking and even motion of walls and other objects inside buildings from across the area. Most of the reports were in the areas of Century, Flomaton and Jay, but extended outward to Pensacola, Cantonment and Brewton.
A weaker magnitude 2.0 earthquake occurred about three hours later at 1:17 p.m. Thursday.
The USGS said Saturday their data shows it was located in Escambia County, Florida, about a mile northeast of Fischer Landing in Century between Oil Company Road and the Escambia River.
There was no damage reported from either earthquake.
There was a series of earthquakes in the vicinity from March 6 to April 17 in 2019 ranging from magnitude 1.8 to magnitude 2.8. In 1997, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred in the area.
United Way Seeks Volunteers To Make Face Masks For Adults And Children
September 6, 2020
If you can sew and have time volunteer, the United Way of West Florida could use your help.
The United Way is collecting fabric masks for children and adults for the YMCA of Northwest Florida, Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County, Every Child a Reader in Escambia, and the Fricker Community Center.
If you are interested or for more information, contact Jackie Dale at jackie.dale@uwwf.org.
Century Botches Public Hearing To Change Land Use For Council Member’s Father
September 6, 2020
The Century Town Council is being forced to reconsider a land use change for the father of a council member after town staff botched a legal notice.
James Smith, Sr., father of council member James Smith, Jr., requested a use change for just over of a tenth of an acre at 220 East Pond Street from public/institutional to low density residential. It’s ordinary business that took a turn due to Florida’s Sunshine Law.
The town council held a required public hearing on the change during their August 17 meeting. James Smith, Jr. made a motion to approve the action, but was informed by Council President Ann Brooks that he could not make the motion due to a conflict of interest. On a new motion by Luis Gomez, the council approved the change 4-0 without a vote from Smith.
But it was later discovered that the public notice published by the town did not include a date for the public hearing, invalidating the entire process.
The council will hold a new public hearing at or after 7:25 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8 and vote again to approve or deny the change.
The town’s planner will pick up the tab for the publication of the improper public notice.
Pictured above: The red area shows the property at 220 East Pond Street. Pictured below: This published public notice did not indicate the date of the meeting. NorthEscambia.com graphics.
County Plans Ensley Gateway Beautification Project; Public Comment Being Accepted
September 6, 2020
A gateway beautification project is planned for the an open parcel north of the intersection of North Palafox Street and East Johnson Avenue in Ensley. It’s in the area that remained after the realignment of West Detroit Boulevard and East Johnson Avenue.
The proposed concept plan includes pedestrian walkways and seating walls that will provide a pleasant passive use park for neighborhood use and enjoyment. A plaza at the intersection is planned and it will provide access to the existing safe pedestrian crosswalks.
The site concept proposes landscaping with native trees and grasses along a bioswale/rain garden that will handle stormwater management in a low impact, natural, sustainable form.
A sidewalk along North Palafox Street is proposed to connect the site to space for an ECAT transit stop.
The public is invited to view the preliminary design concepts for the District 3 Ensley Gateway Beautification Project and provide their comments. The public comment period will open through Wednesday, September 30. Public comments can be submitted in the following ways:
- Mail: Atkins, 2114 Airport Blvd., Suite 1450, Pensacola, Florida 32504
- Phone: (850) 378-6961
