Studer Community Institute

Entrepreneurs ready for Century Business Challenge

April 1, 2015
/ Mollye Barrows
/ training-development

The Town of Century is preparing to welcome 10 entrepreneurs who registered for the Century Business Challenge and a chance to win $25,000 in start up money. The deadline to apply ended March 31 and the applicants submitted a variety of business proposals, including transportation, food service, health care billing, and several for child care and early education schools. Barbara Barber, is the owner and founder of East Hill Academy, a private, non profit school that provides educational services for students with Autism and related learning disabilities. She is one of the ten applicants and is excited to explore the possibility of opening a similar school in Century. "Century is a part of our community and for such a long time it has gone by the wayside," said Barber, "and they need services, just like we do in the south end of the county." Barber opened East Hill Academy in Pensacola, 14 years ago in Pensacola and has 100 students there. A satellite campus Barber opened in Milton four years ago, has 33 students. She says opening a school in Century fits with her goal of providing services to as many students in the two county area as she can. "We’ve already identified 100 students who could use the services we provide," Barber explained. "I would like to pull people from Century and train them to work in the school themselves. That would help the need in the community for jobs. If we’re going to go up there we need to create jobs." Job creation is the reason Quint and Rishy Studer made the $25,000 donation to create the business challenge. Century is one of the poorest towns in Florida and the population of about 2,000 continues to shrink. Town leaders hope the competition will spark successful businesses that will bring new life and growth. "It's a dire need," said Mayor Freddie McCall. "Our kids today, there's no work for them. They need a trade, an education and a job to get ahead." To help with the effort, the town is offering the winner and first runner-up of the business challenge, a discounted lease of $1 a year, at the Century Business Center on Pond Street. The old school was renovated to be a business incubator years ago, but it's now getting a facelift with fresh paint, new carpet, and furniture. Although town leaders say furniture donations are needed. "We want it to be successful," said McCall. "We'll do everything in our power to be successful." The University of West Florida's Haas Center is working the Small Business Development Center to oversee the challenge. The applicants will get software, training, and guidance for all aspects of developing and launching a successful business, before those with finalized plans pitch them to the judges' panel June 25. [sidebar] All workshops will be from 9 am to noon at the Century Business Center. For more information, please visit the SBDC website. Tuesday, May 5th - Marketing I - Winning with Social Media Thursday, May 7th - Marketing II - Using Google Tools & Boosting your Business with Great Customer Reviews Tuesday, May 12th - Pt. 1 - Financial and Cash Flow statements Thursday, May 14th - Pt. 2 - Financial and Cash Flow Statements Thursday, May 19th - Human Resources [/sidebar] The SBDC is also hosting a series of workshops in May for the Century business community. They'll cover marketing, financial statements, and human resources. The workshops are free and open to the general public. "These are not officially part of the challenge, but can only help you make your business a success," said Allison Tyler, economic development coordinator for the Haas Center. "The SBDC is offering five workshops, open to the community and applicants. One study shows 85% of all new job creations come from expanding new businesses." Century struggles with transportation, affordable childcare, and access to other business and social services. Town leaders are also offering rotating office space to interested business owners and non-profit service providers at the Century Business Center. Organizers are also thrilled to see the applicants suggesting plans that help meet the community's needs. "Since economic development isn't a one person job other people are recognizing those issues," said Tyler. "It's exciting to see the community try to tackle those issues and use Studer funding to meet their goals." Barber is anxious to see if her plan for a school is something the Century community wants and says the business challenge is a great opportunity to help the town. "In this challenge, the people of Century need to be on board," said Barber. "Somebody needs to make some kind of headway, before a business will be successful in Century. I hope we can do it and pull this off. It’s in the best interest of Century and it’s students."

Back to Blogs

Entrepreneurs ready for Century Business Challenge

Recent Posts