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Weekly Update

04/02/10

THERE'S NO CRYING IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT...as reported in Tuesday's Ponca City News, our own Jeffrey Nolan Rabel Seymour, Jr. III, esq., LLC, whatever, is leaving PCDA to take the reins of the Blackwell Industrial Authority, (BIA). JNRS has been with PCDA since leaving the BIA three years ago in a carefully orchestrated coup in which PCDA and the Ponca City Chamber lured him away so turn around, we guess, is fair play. There isn't enough room here to list Jeff's accomplishments at PCDA, not all of them visible to the outside world, (as is the case with most economic development work) but all of them instrumental to the future of Ponca City. PCDA is proud of Jeff and not surprised that Blackwell recognized talent and gave Jeff an opportunity to lead his own organization. We look forward to a growing relationship with the BIA as the economy is regional in nature and Blackwell has someone who certainly recognizes that. Blackwell will be all the better for having Jeff, as we have been for working with him these past three years. Godspeed, Jeff.

AND COUNTING...if your bracket had Kay County as the number one county in Oklahoma in census returns to date, you're sitting in the sweet spot. At 59%, the County has responded to the call to return the census forms. This is not a contest with other communities but it is nice to know that we're doing well. Now, however, comes the hard part: You and I have returned our forms. We need to make sure they return their forms. Please, oh please, PCDA begs, encourage your neighbors, (even that one you don't like) to fill out their form and send it back. Let them know that there are blank forms available in the front lobby of the Ministry of Love, (aka City Hall) if they lost theirs. Tell that that census workers will come looking for them on May 1st if they don't respond. There was a great rally yesterday in front of the Ministry with dozens, hundreds, thousands, millions....a lot of good folks having a good time.

GOOD FRIDAY...it is, and a pretty good week. Some things moved closer to completion and that's as much as we can tease at the moment. We sent out one new proposal, met in town with a company out of the East, worked with the UML on a potential grant with the Economic Development Administration, bid farewell to the guy that used to work here, (see above) met with met with two local, really smart companies on things that will help them be successful.

BEING GREEN BEYOND ST. PATTY'S...forgive the title because this has nothing to do with the Irish and only a partial to do with being green environmentally, (which is certainly a good thing but not the point). The green we're talking about is in renewable energy and the future of Ponca City. The SAGE team has been meeting with two manufacturing companies in town analyzing the potential use of ground source heat pump or GSHP. This allows the earth to heat and cool, (to a point) and can save a ton of money that would otherwise go outside our community. Greening, it seems, produces more green and makes Ponca City a very attractive place to do business and to come and do business. Stay tuned for more green.

UPCOMING...
 Thurs. April 8th: PCDA Monthly Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Chamber of Commerce


Ponca City Development Authority. 102 S. Fifth Street, Ste. 3, Ponca City, OK 74601
580.765.7070/580.765.0969-fax, email dmyers@goponca.com, www.goponca.com