The Century Town Council Monday night voted in a special meeting to table a lease proposal from West Florida Cotton to lease the town's industrial building for the storage of cotton to consider a possible proposal from an unnamed manufacturing company that will bring jobs to the town.
At a previous council meeting, council members expressed concerns about leasing vs. selling the building, and council members did not want to sell.
Chief Business Development Officer Danita Andrews works with Florida West Economic Development Alliance, the designated economic development organization for Escambia County and the City of Pensacola. Their territory is all of Escambia County (Fla.).
Andrews said the unnamed company reached out to Florida West about a location for manufacturing. Florida West contacted Century's Mayor Henry Hawkins to see if they could come take a look at the building. Representatives came and looked at the building last Thursday, Aug. 20, and submitted a proposal to the town.
“We're trying to work to have them to have an opportunity to explore the location in Century for manufacturing and bringing jobs,” said Andrews. “It's been my experience that manufacturing jobs tend to draw from not only from the immediate area, but also from surrounding areas as well.”
The company offered a buying price of $875,000, but the town is not considering selling the building.
Andrews did say the preference would be to own, but they are willing to work with council.
Due to the Sunshine Law, representatives of the company plan to meet with council members individually.
“It's exciting that we have an opportunity concerning Century,” said Andrews.
Mayor Henry Hawkins did not think the town advertised properly, to attract a larger audience.
“Nobody else knew what was going on,” said Hawkins. “They should have advertised in Pensacola and other places, not just the Tri City Ledger. If you're going to do it, do it right.”
He said he had been talking to Florida West and they indicated they had a company looking for a building.
The council will address the proposal at a future meeting, as soon as the company can meet with council members individually.
