WEEKLY UPDATE      July 27th, 2007

WORKING ON WORKFORCE ...we’ve been telling you about the jobs that are going unfilled in Ponca City. On Wednesday, OSU’s economic development folks hosted a forum on the need to attract workers to the state. The issue of building an economy that fits the workforce, or training a workforce that meets the needs of the economy, depending upon your perspective, is becoming ever more acute as we head towards that magic day in 2012 when experts tell us that, for the first time, there will be more people leaving the workforce then entering it. Wednesday’s summit gave Ponca City an opportunity to share some of the steps our economic development team is taking to make sure both workers and industry are served. DON’T FORGET, HIRE THE VET ...remember that ad slogan? If you’re young enough to remember that, then it will make sense to you that one of the solutions to the workforce challenge is making Ponca City a base camp for vets looking to start their new lives. They make great employees as anyone who has served their country looks upon waking up for work at 7:00 a.m. as sleeping in. Our partners at the Ponca City OESC office have made a very focused effort on vet recruitment and now lead the state in vet placement. Between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006, the office referred 410 vets of which 116, or 28.9% were “placed,” (guv talk for “hired”). One year later, those numbers increased as 528 vets were referred to local employers with 355 or 67.23% “placed.” With retention a major workforce issue, it is also worth noting that the retention rate for vet workers stands at 82.65% after six months! WORKING ON WORK ...a shortage of workers to fill jobs does not mean that we stop working with companies. In fact, it means we are working closer with companies as the challenges facing business and neighborhoods are shared and the solutions address not just the needs of industry, but the needs of any community. In the spirit of said solution finding, PCDA staff this week submitted two proposals, one for an expansion to a local company, one to an out of state company. We also toured a company interested in Ponca City, (and they bring their own workforce) continued to negotiate on an agreement with a company, (it’s at their corporate headquarters) held a special meeting of the PCDA Trustees to discuss most of the above. PCDA staff was also in OKC today to meet with our very best friends in state government about funding the pull truck for the new Pioneer Tech mobile training center. AUGUST MEETING DATE CHANGED ...we’re sorry if this throws your entire month into massive confusion but the regular monthly meeting of the PCDA Board of Trustees has been rescheduled to Friday, August 17th at 7:30 a.m. in the Chamber Conference Room. There will not be a meeting on Thursday, August 9th. The new date will be the same as the board retreat. UPCOMING.... Tue. July 31st/Aug. 1st: Duncan delegation visit to Ponca City Fri. Aug. 17th: PCDA Monthly Board meeting, 7:30 a.m., Chamber of Commerce Board Room Fri. Aug. 17th: PCDA Board Retreat, Big Fork Ranch, 9am-2:30 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