go ponca

Weekly Update

12/07/07

December 7, 2007

THE COST OF LIVING...in Ponca City America is 90.8% of the average cost in the United States. This according to the most recent cost of living survey conducted by The Council for Community and Economic Research. Every quarter, PCDA and 301 other organizations in town and cities across America, conduct the survey collecting prices on a significant number of items including groceries, housing, health care transportation and more. As a comparison, the cost of living, (100% being average) in Denver is 105% of the average. San Francisco is 166% of the average and New York City is 213% of the average. Ponca City is consistent with other communities in the region. Stillwater's rate is 90.4%, Enid stands at 94.9%, Tulsa is 91.4%, Wichita is 90.6% and OKC is 87.4%. Bartlesville did not participate this quarter.

THE HOLIDAY HURRY...the weeks approaching the holiday season are always busy as people try to get things finished before the end of the year and before the holidays. PCDA staff spent this week trying to get several projects closed before busy business people take a well deserved week or so and turn their attention to the important things in their lives. To wit: this week, PCDA staff delivered one proposal and one legal agreement, handed over one big check, (the UML second round funding...see Wednesday's Ponca City News) processed the paperwork for the Mertz expansion traffic signal, continued the concrete poor at Bob, met with four other companies and bit our nails on another project that (please) is about to close.

BY THE NUMBERS...there are a lot of emotions involved with an economy that has changed as drastically as the Ponca City economy has over the last four years. The graph looks like a huge V, (that's way down, then way up for the visually challenged or the opposite of the "Alpha" sign for our Greek friends). Since not everyone went down, and since not everyone has come back up, the best way to take the emotions out of things is to use hard statistics. That's a long lead in to tell you that the 2008 edition of "Ponca City by the Numbers" will be out early in the year with every data point you stay awake dreaming about.

MR. SMITH DRIVING A WHITE BRONCO??? The next time you feel unappreciated, consider this: At yesterday's State Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Forum in Oklahoma City, Washington D.C. based pollster John Zogby reported that in his most recent survey, 11% of the public had a favorable view of the U.S. Congress. To put this in perspective, in 1995 16% of the public had a favorable view of O.J. Simpson. Can't you feel the love?

PCDA TRUSTEES MEET NEXT THURDAY...at 7:30 am at the Chamber of Commerce. On the agenda is the production of a DVD for workforce attraction, the traffic signal design for the Mertz expansion, more on the PCDA strategic plan and a preview of our new web site.

UPCOMING...

 Fri. Dec. 7th: Ponca City Christmas Parade, 6 pm, Grand Avenue

 Thur. Dec. 13th: PCDA Trustees monthly board meeting, 7:30 am, Chamber of Commerce