State Awards Century $75,000 Grant To Map, Analyze Town Water System
August 21, 2026
The Town of Century has been awarded a $75,000 state grant to create a comprehensive hydraulic model of its municipal drinking water system.
The funding is part of nearly $8.8 million in infrastructure and planning grants awarded on Thursday by Governor Ron DeSantis to small and rural communities across Northwest Florida. Century’s award comes through the state’s Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant Program, administered by FloridaCommerce.
A hydraulic model serves as a computerized mathematical simulation—essentially a digital twin—of the town’s entire water network, including pipes, pumps, storage tanks, and valves.
The digital model will allow engineers and town officials to simulate how water moves throughout the underground system under various everyday demands and extreme conditions, identifying potential pressure issues or capacity limits without having to experiment directly on the town’s physical infrastructure.
The Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant Program assists local governments in developing strategic plans, addressing local infrastructure needs, and improving community resiliency.
Pictured top: Century Mayor Ben Boutwell (right) with a DeSantis staff member Thursday morning in Bonifay. Pictured below: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a grant announcement Thursday in Bonifay, where he awarded nearly $8.8 million to Northwest Florida rural communities. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
This Is The ‘Suspicious Object’ That Sent A Bomb Squad To Airway Drive On Thursday
August 21, 2026
Airway Drive south of Nine Mile Road was closed for over two hours on Thursday afternoon while authorities investigated a “suspicious package”.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office shut down a section of the roadway south of the Miracle League Fields at John R. Jones Athletic Park and requested the State Fire Marshal’s Office Bomb Squad to inspect the object, which “rendered safe” the package.
The object was confirmed to be a sealed container used in geocaching—a global, GPS-based outdoor scavenger hunt where participants hide and locate containers with logbooks.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
