WEEKLY UPDATE      April 20th, 2007

LOOK WHOSE TALKING ...we have been telling you for the past few weeks about the interviews we have been conducting with local industry. The questions asked deal with plans, expansions, hiring and more. In the not too distant future, we'll tell you the results, (not mentioning company names since individual company information is confidential). There are still a number of companies left to be interviewed but the results thus far are very interesting. Most Ponca City companies are hiring, investing, expanding and more. Only a couple of businesses report decline. Perhaps more interesting is this: even with the vast majority of companies saying that they are doing well, most also seem to think that they are the only company doing well. We can't tell you why they feel this way because they also tell us their suppliers are very busy, their banks are growing, they are investing in new technology and they continue to adapt to changing economic conditions. They seem to feel, however, that other companies are suffering and not doing well. The bottom line is that the vast majority of companies continue to hire, expand, change and invest. This mirrors the OSU reports showing very strong job growth in Ponca City, strong growth in personal income and growth in sales taxes. Businesses are clearly experiencing this, they just seem to think they are the exception. THIS WEEK AT PCDA ...was consumed with the interviews described above, and the preparation of a proposal scheduled to be presented next week. Proposals vary in size and complexity and this one requires meetings with financial people, construction trades, legal beagles, insurance people, utility experts, workforce professionals and others. In addition, tenant improvements were completed for one completed agreement, (think accepted proposal) and we talked with another company that is still considering their proposal. There was also a meeting of Ponca City's venture group today and preparation for another site visit next week. EDUCATION ISNT WASTED ON THIS YOUNG ...at least not for our very young Katherine, "Data Master," Long, PCDA's Business Intelligence Manager. Katherine came to PCDA fully trained in researching with her B.A. in hand. This week she attended an intensive economic development seminar in Missouri aimed at professionals new to this field. A FAIR AFFAIR ...this week's job fair at Pioneer Technology Center attracted 252 job seekers and dozens of companies. Numerous job offers were extended although if we gave you a number right now we would be making it up, (it's too early to tell). Why should you care? If 100 people get hired at an average pay of $10 per hour, that adds over two million to the local economy each year. It also keeps work here that might go to areas with more people seeking jobs. There are also taxes paid and supplies bought from other local businesses. UPCOMING.... Sat. Apr 21st: United Way/AmeriCorps work day at Ponca City Head Start. Call 765-2476 Fri. Apr 27th: Chamber of Commerce Monthly meeting, Zino's Restaurant, 12:00 noon Sun.-Tue. Apr 29th-May 1st: Corenet Global Trade Show, (site selectors) Denver Sun.-Wed. May 6th-9th: Bio 2007 Trade Show, (Oklahoma delegation) Boston 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