Century Talks Business Climate, Business Challenge
December 19, 2014
Big changes are in store for the business climate in Century as the town works to implement an economic development plan authored by the University of West Florida’s Haas Center.
Thursday afternoon, the Haas Center’s Brice Harris met in a workshop setting with the Century town council, recommending future actions the council should take toward their business goals.
A first step centers around the town’s “Habitat for Opportunity Building”, a former school on Pond Street. The complex was redeveloped into a possible business incubator several years ago, but has remained empty.
Harris recommended that the council start be changing the awkward “Habitat for Opportunity Building” name to something along the lines of the “Century Business Center”. Individual classrooms, each with a door to the outside, will be improved into office space.
One space, Harris suggested, could be rented to the winner of the upcoming Century Business Challenge for a reduced rate of $1 per year as part of the winner’s prize that will also include $25,000 in startup cash from Quint and Rishy Studer. Details on that contest will be forthcoming in January.
Another office space would be used by an Americorp volunteer working for the town and by the Haas Center, and another office could be shared by community non-profits providing regular services such as the United Way or Northwest Florida Legal Services.
“I think it’s the beginning of a new year 2015, and it’s great thing for Century,” council member Sandra McMurray Jackson said.
“We are ready, willing and able to cooperate,” Century Mayor Freddie McCall said.
The council and Harris also discussed a redesign and upgrades for the town’s website, which was described by McCall as “a poor website”. The website work would possibly be performed by an Americorps volunteer.
Century’s current website was developed by an area marketing firm in 2012 for $5,950, part of a $11,450 package that also included a five year comprehensive marketing strategy. Also at the workshop Thursday, the council and Harris discussed transportation improvements, and even new signage at the town’s limits.
Any action items discussed at Thursday’s workshop must be approved by the council during an upcoming regular meeting.
Pictured top: Century Economic Development Coordinator Allison Tyler listens as Brice Harris of the Haas Center addresses the Century Town Council Thursday afternoon. Pictured inset: Council member Gary Riley listens to the discussion. Pictured bottom: A portion of Century’s Habitat for Opportunity complex. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
State Rep. Clay Ingram Named President, CEO Of Pensacola Chamber
December 19, 2014
The Greater Pensacola Chamber board of directors voted Thursday to elected Clay Ingram as the chamber’s new president and CEO. . Ingram, who was unanimously voted by the Board to oversee all operational aspects of the Chamber, will begin his new role on January 5.
“Clay brings energy, leadership, a unique perspective and highly developed skillsets important to this role and our organization. We are thrilled to have him serve as the Chamber’s next president and CEO,” said Carol Carlan, chair of the Greater Pensacola Chamber board of directors. “His understanding of small business development, finance and the importance of regional partnerships will be a tremendous asset that will allow us to continue serving the Northwest Florida business community.”
Ingram currently serves as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 1st District – which includes most of Escambia County – and previously, the state’s 2nd District from 2010 to 2012. He was recently named chair of the Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee, where he is responsible for crafting a $12 billion budget for several agencies, including the Department of Transportation, Department of State, Department of Economic Opportunity, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and Department of Military Affairs. Ingram also serves on the Florida Defense Support Task Force and the Joint Legislative Budget Commission.
“Over the course of this year, the Chamber has repositioned itself to create a better business climate in the Greater Pensacola Region,” said Ingram. “I am excited to lead a team that is dedicated to maintaining economic prosperity and a better quality of life for those that choose to live and do business in this community.”
Prior to being elected to the legislature, Ingram worked in sales, real estate and served as a teacher in the Escambia County School District, where he taught courses in the Exceptional Student Education Department at Tate High School.
“It has been an honor and privilege to lead the Chamber, and I couldn’t be more proud of what this organization has accomplished over the past year and a half,” said former Pensacola mayor and current chamber president and CEO Jerry Maygarden. “In addition to serving as the executive director for the Pensacola Chamber Foundation, I will continue to serve as an advisor to both Clay and the board for as long as I am needed.”
A Pensacola native, Ingram is a graduate of Tate High School and Florida State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in general communication, with a minor in political science. An active member of the community, he is a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church, the Cantonment Rotary Club, Century Chamber of Commerce and serves as a board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida and the Florida State University Alumni Association. Clay and his wife Leslie have two daughters, Madilyn and Lydia.
Graduation Rates Increase In Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties
December 19, 2014
Statewide graduation rates increased to an 11-year high of 76.1 percent, an increase of 0.5 percent over last year and a rise of nearly 17 percentage points since 2003-04, according to data released Thursday by the Florida Department of Education. The graduation rate also improved in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Escambia County’s graduation rate was up to 66.1 percent, an increase of nearly two percentage points since last year and 8.4 percentage points since 2010-11. And Santa Rosa saw an increase in their graduation rate to 82.8 percent, a 3.9 percentage point improvement over last year and five percentage points since 2010-11,
The graduation rates at high schools in Escambia County are as follows:
- Escambia — 60%
- Pensacola — 62%
- Tate — 77%
- Pine Forest — 64%
- Washington — 72 %
- Northview — 70%
- West Florida — 95%
The graduation rates at high schools in Santa Rosa County are as follows:
- Central — 70%
- Gulf Breeze — 94%
- Jay — 91%
- Milton — 89%
- Pace — 91%
- Navarre — 96%
The graduation rate measures the percentage of students who graduate within four years of their first enrollment in ninth grade. The rate is calculated for an adjusted cohort of students – a group of students on the same schedule to graduate – taking into account those who enter or exit the group.
Florida’s graduation rate only considers standard diploma recipients as graduates in the calculation. Students who earn a special diploma, a GED-based diploma, a certificate of completion, or have been retained and are still in school after four years are counted as non-completers in the calculation.
Pictured top: The Tate High School Class of 2014 graduated last June at the Pensacola Civic Center. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Names December Students Of The Month
December 19, 2014
Ernest Ward Middle School has named Students of the Month for December. They are (L-R) Amaya Stallworth, seventh grade; Kayley Lashley, sixth grade; and Kaylin Glenn, eighth grade. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino And Cantonment No Longer Considered For New Jail Location
December 19, 2014
The location of the new Escambia County Jail won’t be in North Escambia. Escambia County Commissioners decided Thursday morning during a Committee of the Whole meeting to remove all location options north of I-10 from their list.
Locations previously on a short list but no longer under consideration include Highway 29 between Barrineau Park Road and Duxbury Avenue in Molino, the Central Commerce Park in Cantonment, and near Highway 29 and Beck’s Lake Road, also in Cantonment.
Locations still under consideration included:
- Old Soccer Complex, Highway 29 and W Street. Formerly owned by the county, the site now belongs to Gulf Power
- Old Palafox and Airport Boulevard. The site fronts both roadways.
- McDonald’s Shopping Center site on West Fairfield Drive.
- Superfund site on Palafox — some 68 acres north of the Superfund site in the area of Beggs Lane and Spruce Street.
The Central Booking and Detention was damaged beyond repair during a natural gas explosion following flooding on April 30, forcing the county to find temporary housing for about 600 inmates. Now, the county is vetting pieces of property as possible locations for a new detention facility. As part of that vetting process, the county is looking at the drainage and flooding potential, zoning and traffic patterns for each site.
One Injured In Cedartown Road Wreck
December 19, 2014
One person was reported to be injured in a single vehicle accident just before 7:00 Thursday night on Cedartown Road near Allen Circle. The injuries were not considered life threatening. Further information has not been released by the Florida Highway Patrol as they continue their investigation. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Nine Mile Road Ticket A Winner In Fantasy 5 Drawing
December 19, 2014
Someone is over $54,000 richer this morning thanks to a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket from a Nine Mile Road store.
The free Quick Pick ticket from the Publix on West Nine Mile Road at Pine Forest Road, was one of four winning tickets sold for Thursday night’s drawing worth $54,467.31. Other winning tickets matching all five numbers was sold in Cape Coral, Dunnellon and Miami.
The 287 tickets matching four numbers won $122 each. Another 9,461 tickets matching three numbers are worth $10 each, and93,324 tickets holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Saturday’s winning numbers were 2-10-16-22-31.
Mirror Image: Sunset At Lake Stone
December 19, 2014
Pictured: The setting sun slips behind the trees Thursday evening at Lake Stone in Century. Lake Stone is a 130 acre man-made lake constructed in 1967. It has an average depth of six feet and a maximum depth of 22 feet. The 100 acre park, owned by Escambia County, includes a campground and boat ramp. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dept Of Ed Releases Grades For High Schools
December 19, 2014
Preliminary high school grades were released today by the Florida Department of Education.
State Board of Education rules mandate that if at least 75 percent of schools earn an “A” or “B,” the amount of points needed for a school to earn a school grade is increased in the following year. Since 83 percent of high schools earned an “A” or “B” in 2012-13, in accordance with State Board of Education rule, the grading scale was adjusted upward for high schools in 2013-14.
After receiving input from Florida families and educators, Governor Rick Scott signed legislation in May to simplify the school grading formula to focus on factors critical to student success. This is the final year school grades will be calculated using the current formula.
The new formula emphasizes success measures such as student achievement, learning gains, graduation rates and earning college credit and industry certifications. School grades will be calculated next year using the new formula and schools earning a D or F will not be required to implement turnaround options for one year.
In Escambia County, grades were as follows:
- Escambia High – C (C last year)
- Pensacola – C (B last year)
- Tate – B (B last year)
- Pine Forest – C (C last year)
- Washington - B (B last year)
- Northview – C (B last year)
- West Florida – A (A last year)
In Santa Rosa County, grades were as follows:
- Central – B (C last year)
- Gulf Breeze – A (B last year)
- Jay- B (A last year)
- Milton- A (A last year)
- Pace – A (B last year)
- Navarre – B (A last year)
Two Pedestrians Struck On Bayou Boulevard Now In Stable Condition
December 18, 2014
Two pedestrians remain hospitalized in stable condition after they crossed the road in front of an SUV Wednesday night and were struck by the vehicle.
The incident occurred around 7:15 p.m. on Bayou Boulevard near the north entrance to Applebee’s.
Soul Danh, 70, of Pensacola was eastbound on Bayou Boulevard in a Toyota 4Runner and was merging into a turn lane to go north on Ninth Avenue when the pedestrians walked in front of him, said Pensacola Police Officer Dan Bell.
Bell said a 39-year-old woman was talking on her call phone while she and her four children walked across the road. The woman’s five-year-old daughter was also struck by the vehicle and was in critical condition Wednesday night.
Officer Jason Browning said the pedestrians, who were crossing the road from south to north, were not in a crosswalk. Browning said the incident remains under investigation.