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PCDA Receives International Award

05/29/08

PCDA RECEIVES SECOND INTERNATIONAL AWARD


The Ponca City Development Authority was named the "Best Business Expansion and Retention Program" for a community with a population under 50,000. The award was announced by Business Retention and Expansion International and will be presented at their annual conference in Wichita next month.

"Business retention and expansion is the most fundamental aspect of economic development and we're very proud to have the best in class program here in Ponca City," PCDA Chair Lee Evans said, adding. "You can't build an economy if you don't take care of the industries that are already here."

According to PCDA records, the organization has worked a total of 1,746 jobs in the Ponca City area since it's inception in 2003. Of these, 479 were new jobs attracted to Ponca City, 1,084 were new jobs expanded in Ponca City by existing industries, and 183 were jobs retained in the community as a result of PCDA action. PCDA works with industry and business services and does not handle retail development.

The award calls the PCDA program "outstanding," and has invited PCDA to make a presentation to their membership about how to develop a BRE program in other communities. "We're happy to tell them how we do it but Ponca City business climate gives us a unique advantage over other communities," said David Myers, PCDA Executive Director.

"Most communities think that growing jobs means importing jobs," said Myers. "We've added over 1,800 net new jobs to the Ponca City economy over the last two years and the vast majority have come from exiting industries. That's why it's so important to us and we're fortunate to have leadership on our board and in this community that understands how to grow an economy."

Myers gave credit for the PCDA effort to Assistant Director Tim Burg, "Tim is out there everyday working with the businesses. We can tell other places what we do but without a Tim Burg, they'll never have the success that we do. This award is really a tribute to his hard work and we're very proud of him."

Business Retention and Expansion International is an organization of economic development professionals that focus exclusively on the practice of business retention and expansion. The organization helps its member communities work with businesses to insure they remain competitive in the face of change in the global economy.

"To receive an award from your peers is really an honor," said Myers who, along with Burg, will accept the award next month. PCDA was honored last fall by the International Economic Development Council for the UML, called the best economic development project of 2006 in the nation, for communities under 50,000. In 2007, The State of Oklahoma also named PCDA as the best business retention and expansion program in the state.