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07/11/08
THE COST OF LIVING...You can no longer say all eyes are on...because there are just too many things to watch. Should we watch oil prices? Housing? Iraq? Iran? Nigeria? Inflation? Paris, (both)? Bobby S.? Mikey G?...you get the picture. The cost of living or more specifically the rising thereto, is on this list and this weekend, PCDA set out to see where we stand nationally. The last time we did this, Ponca City's cost of living was about 91% of the national average. This time, it might just be 91% of the cost of living even though prices are going up. The folks who compile the cost of living give communities a tight four day period every quarter to go around and read price tags on items. So even if the cost of your favorite shampoo went up 10%, if it went up 10% everywhere our ranking would not change. PCDA compiles this to make sure those unlucky folks who don't get to live here know that our cost of living can beat up their cost of living. Overall, according to the feds, prices are up 4.6% over last year. Prices are up, (today's yarn) because it seems there's a guy in Nigeria in a bad mood and he might do something which might somehow impact, which could lead to....
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS...every month we report back to you about the contacts we've had with new companies, existing ones, our friends in the government, (singular noun in this context) those charming consultants and our partners in building the economy. At yesterday's meeting of the PCDA Trustees, PCDA staff reported on those encounters over the course of the fiscal year, which ended June 30th. For that twelve month period that just ended, PCDA had contact with 291 new companies, 400 with existing Ponca City companies, (in other words, 400 new issues or opportunities that often involved several meetings) 188 with consultants, 159 with our partners in the region and 239 with government. These numbers are slightly down from last year since we spent most of the Fall of '07 closing the deals on Continental Tech and Encompass Tool and doing our best to do tight spec work to protect the public's investment. PCDA currently has 11 projects open with 505 new potential jobs. We're also working three new leads to try and turn them into projects. A lead becomes a project when the company says something to the effect of "I'm interested in you!" (shortlisted).
IT'S THE PICKLE THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE...or so says a customer service workshop that will be held next Thursday, July 17th from 11:30 to 1:00 at the Chamber of Commerce. It's one thing to make, say, a hamburger. The extras, (think pickles for said hamburger) are often the difference between success and, well, not success. The workshop which includes lunch is free thanks to ConocoPhillips. Call 765-4400 to reserve your spot.
THIS WEEK....we're running out of space so here is a summary of this week's activities in short hand: Exist. biz: 5 mtgs. Proposals: 3 out; new biz: 1 contact; biz hook-ups: 4 projects.
UPCOMING...
Wed. July 16th: Ponca City Medical Center Emergency Room Opening; 4 pm
Thur. July 17th: "Give ‘em the Pickle" customer service workshop, (see above)
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