WEEKLY UPDATE      March 23rd, 2007

OOPS! HE DID IT AGAIN ...and we say that like it's a good thing because it is. We told you last week that Tim "Can I pick 'em?" Burg was going to the CFO Rising Trade Show, an annual gathering of Chief Financial Officers or "C" level types as we like to say in economic development. This is where we found Host Analytics in 2005. When you go to trade shows, you need to get people to visit your booth. This often means having a promotional item. This year, for the second time in three years, PCDA won the best trade show promotional item at CFO. The item, an attractive, (we call it "inexpensive" and will not comment on rumors that it's cheesy) desk clock with the PCDA logo and web site address, (www.goponca.com) on it. Why do we care? After the award was announced, people flocked to the booth to get it allowing us to talk to them about Ponca City. As a result, we picked up three strong leads. MEANWHILE, BACK ON THE RANCH ...while Burg was handing out trinkets in Florida, (he was only there through mid Wednesday…didn't he pick a "hail" of a time to be gone?) things were clicking along in America's Family Business Heartland. The paperwork on two handshake agreements for small projects was delivered, we met with a company about establishing a regional headquarters here, another about foreign trade and distribution, still another about their ongoing operations, another about a different plant configuration, another about our E-Pulse business survey and several similar phone calls that, while significant, were not really time consuming. We also delivered a proposal to a group based on one of the coasts to bring a professional conference to Ponca City and, more specifically, the UML, planned an upcoming tour of elected officials through a Ponca City business, developed a proposal for a new operation to relocate to Ponca City and helped plan a statewide bioscience organization. BEYOND THE PIPELINE ...The summary of the week described above could be called "process," so where's the beef? The PCDA Board of Trustees will meet on Wednesday morning to consider a vote on a proposed agreement that involves 15 good jobs. They will also give direction on a large project for which PCDA is developing a proposal. Finally, they will look at another proposal PCDA has developed for a small business and will give thumbs up or thumbs down before it goes out. The proposed agreement was awaiting a third party that finally came in, (and has to be acted upon before April 1st) and the other two items came up since the last board meeting and have tight deadlines. The meeting starts at 7:30 a.m. LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD ...every now and then its good to take a look around at the incredible success stories around us. As an example, PCDA met with American Iron Sports in Tonkawa this week. The company is expanding along Grand Avenue near Main and investing in downtown Tonkawa. The company makes sports machines, (think batting cages) and they sell retail sports apparel and equipment on-line and in their very upbeat and attractive store. UPCOMING.... Wed, 3/28: PCDA Board of Trustees Special Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Chamber Conference Room Ponca City Development Authority 102 S. Fifth Street, Ste. 3, Ponca City, OK 74601 580.765.7070/580.765.0969-fax Or E-Mail - David Myers CEcD - Executive Director Visit Ponca City Development's Latest News Archives © www.goponca.com - Ponca City Development Authority - Ponca City, Oklahoma