WEEKLY UPDATE      June 18, 2004

WEEKEND AT THE SUMMIT CONCLUDES ...last weekend's Summit Conference concluded with a significant number of suggestions and cold, hard cash from many of the local and out of town guests, to pursue a number of economic development initiatives designed to grow the Ponca City economy. Chaired by Fred Boettcher with help from committee members Louise Abercrombie, Barry Bickle, Frankie Wood-Black, Linda Brown, Charles Casey, Larry Murphy and Sue Ziegenhain, the event featured a reception on Friday night at the Marland Mansion and a workshop on Saturday at City Hall run by Leo Presley, the former Executive Director of the state Department of Commerce. The attendees challenged the community to not rely on the way things have been done in the past. They noted that successful communities supported entrepreneurs, provided high quality medical services, target companies appropriate to the area and offered strong support to existing businesses. The information will be used to develop a strategic plan later this summer. VOTE PC ...a number of Ponca Citians gathered in front of City Hall today for a photo op with OKC's Channel Five. The reason? To continue to convince the station to select Ponca City as one of five profiled during their 50th anniversary week in July. If you could not mug for the camera, you can still pester them at www.channeloklahoma.com and vote for Ponca! EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS IMPROVE ...The Oklahoma Employment Securities Commission released the most recent employment report which showed an improving job picture in Ponca City and environs. The rate in Ponca City in April dropped to 6.2% from 6.7% in March and 7.1% from the same time a year ago. In real numbers, there were 130 more people working in Ponca City in April as opposed to March. Statewide, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.5%, considerably below the national rate 0f 5.4%. Oklahoma compares well, from an employees perspective, to neighboring states. Our 4.5% is tied with Missouri as the lowest in the region, slightly ahead of Kansas at 4.6% and well ahead of Arkansas' 5.4% and the 5.6% rate in Texas. As a state, the job picture in Oklahoma has improved almost a whole percentage point from 5.4% in April of 2003 to the 4.5% rate. The national rate is not as robust rising to 5.4% compared to 5.8% the same time last year. PCDA TO SELL PONCA AT RV SHOW ...Tim "Trade Show" Burg will hit the road again next week as PCDA attends the Great North American RV Rally in Hutchinson, Kansas. Burg will join with Quality Water, (aka Cowboy Springs) to work their booth and to visit with companies at the show and in the area to talk to them about giving Ponca City the business. UPCOMING.... *Tue. June 22nd: Reception for Superintendents Dr. Bill White (old) and Dr. David Pennington (new) Marland Mansion, 4:30-6 p.m. Call 580.765.4400 for information. *Fri, June 25th: PCDA Special Meeting, 4:00 pm, Chamber Conference Room *Tue. June 29th: Rescheduled Chamber Mixer, Sun and Fun, 5-9 p.m. 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