go ponca

Ponca City A Lost Paradise, Found

09/12/07

Lost Paradise Found
       translated from the El Latino American Newspaper - Oklahoma City

In the north part of the state there exists a city where Hispanics are welcome.

With major changes on the horizon for Ponca City, authorities and a group of organizations of this mighty city are looking for....you!. They gave the Hispanic community a look at the perks that Ponca City has to offer during the Viva Oklahoma 2007 that was held Saturday the 28th of July.

Ponca City is approximately 105 miles north of Oklahoma City and is 18 miles from the border of Kansas, with a population of approximately 30 thousand people. Ponca City would like to invite the Hispanic population to come and visit, take a tour and possibly live in this growing city, which offers a variety of employment opportunities. It is safe place to live and has beautiful natural attractions.

Sylvia Urioste from Pioneer Technology Center in Ponca City said "Our visit here to Viva Oklahoma 2007 is to reach the Hispanic population and inform them of the many opportunities our city has to offer. Ponca City has many opportunities for new business and current job openings. We think Hispanics are like a big train that bring with them the cars loaded with growth. 5% percent of our population is Hispanic and is growing everyday. For this reason, Ponca City is interested in recruiting bilingual individuals at all levels of business."

Ponca City obtained 3.8% of labor growth in the year 2006, almost doubling the growth of the state in general; the state has a 1.8% labor growth. According to Oklahoma State University, the rapid growth is affecting many companies and factories, which in turn increases local development.

Help is available in the form of many programs and support for any one wishing to start a small or big business in Ponca City: The Oklahoma Quality Jobs Act, New Jobs Tax Credit, Workforce Training Programs, New Market Tax Credit, Tax Incentives on Indian Lands, Five Year Property Tax Exemption, State Enterprise Zone Benefits, Federal Hub Zone Benefits, Freeport Inventory Tax Exemption, Sales Tax Exemption on Goods Used on Energy used in Manufacturing.

In addition to helping investors and businesses, Ponca City also has interesting places to visit: Pioneer Woman Statue and Museum, 101 Ranch Roadside Picnic Area (a historical place and park) Marland Grand Home, Centennial Plaza (a place you can learn about the cities history). Also Standing Bear Statue & Standing Bear Native American Memorial Park. Standing Bear Park pays tribute to the American Indians and specifically to Chief Standing Bear. The Cann Botanical Gardens with a large variety of trees and beautiful flowers is another place to visit.

In addition to the standard kindergarten through high school education, Ponca City offers higher education opportunities: Pioneer Technology Center, Northern Oklahoma College, Oklahoma State University and The University Multispectral laboratories (one of the best universities dealing with high tech sciences that you will find in Oklahoma)

Ponca City offers a great variety of incentives and many pleasures that make this city a great and important option for Hispanics wishing to reach a higher standard of living. For more information you can visit the Web Site of Ponca City: www.poncacity.com