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Weekly Update

04/04/08

THE COMPANY WE KEEP...don't look now but a number of companies have started looking again. Such was the case this week when two of said number toured Ponca City looking for a roof to put over their heads. The bottom line is that for one, there wasn't much to show. They reported that a site consultant had recommended our community but was not charged with finding them a building. "Everyone has lots of empty buildings because of the demise of American manufacturing and lots of people looking for work because, well, that's what we're used too." One of the fun things about economic development is to be the guide on someone's paradigm shift. As you and I know, there are very few people looking for work, (see story below). In addition, there are very few available industrial buildings in the community which is frustrating since we're in the process of building two, (only so much money to go around) and we've had several companies come looking. It's the old, "if only" story. In addition to those guys, PCDA also met with a local company considering expansion and started pursuing an out of state company referred by a local business.

TRUSTEES TO MEET NEXT THURSDAY...fresh from their run at the Big Fork Ranch on Good Friday, PCDA Trustees will hold their regular April meeting next Thursday. The subject of discussion will include said confab at Big Fork Ranch and the PCDA strategic plan. PCDA staff took the retreat, which took the February 29th Town Hall, which considered past results and we're in the process of turning that into a plan for the next five years, (Wiki "Plan your work and work your plan." If you don't know Wiki, you'll have to Wiki Wiki). Also on the agenda will be a resolution recommending that the City Commission call for a July election to consider an extension of the current sales tax dedicated to economic development. In addition, approval will be sought for going to bid on the traffic light for the Mertz project. This and the excitement of board minutes and financials, starts next Thursday at 7:30 am.

A-OK IN THE GATEWAY...the communities of the OK Gateway economic region met in Perry today to work on common issues. These included housing, population attraction, workforce, casinos, downtown (Main street) educational alignment, etc. Sound familiar?

IT'S THE WORKFORCE, STUPID...and what are we doing about it? PCDA sent out our second salvo to those who fit the profile of not completing their education, (wink). We also had one of our big marketing pushes in G.I. Jobs hit recently. That's gotten a bunch of calls and people that we have forwarded to our partners. "Bunch," means closer to 20 than three or sixty. We've talked to several companies about retention and what they could do, (some are more aware of this importance than others) as well as working to identify new initiatives.

UPCOMING...

 Thur. Apr. 10th: PCDA Board of Trustees Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Chamber Conference Room

 Thur. Apr. 10th: Oklahoma World Trade Conference, Tulsa

 Mon. Apr. 21st: Small Business Day at the State Capitol, 1:00-5:00; Info: 405.235.3669

 

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