CONNECTIVITY.......is a major buzzword in the economic development community today. Connecting supply chain gaps, connecting with workforce, and even just internet connectivity is a huge hurdle for some communities our size. Not Ponca City, but that is thanks to a forward thinking City government: First with the City-wide wifi project in 2008 and then more recently, the broadband to home within city limits project. From an economic development standpoint, this type of broadband connectivity is gold when talking to companies about expansion or recruiting companies (and workforce) to the Ponca City community.

Other connectivity is business to business networking like the Trade Show Brigade or the Shared Equipment Program (keep reading). New programs at Pioneer Technology Center assist connectivity between students and the jobs available in the community. And what about connecting with new customers to grow your business? The Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) is at the ready to help connect local businesses to the government contracting world. Connection is the name of the game. How can PCDA assist you? Give us a call and let's chat.

SHARING IS GOOD .....Participating in the second round of Keyence CMM (coordinate measuring machine) training was Johnny Thornburgh, Morgan Leseman, Tryson Willits, Jeff Williams, Keagan Brown, Skyler Ward, Rick Staggs & Laurence Beliel. Cameron Wilson of the Keyence Corporation, did an excellent job of training the group and was able to demonstrate several new functions to the group. It was time well spent raising the comfort and skill levels of our industrial users. 

The Keyence CMM is one of the pieces of equipment in the PCDA Shared Equipment Program. If you would be interested in learning how to use the CMM, contact Laurence Beliel at PCDA for more information.

CONGRATULATIONS!... to our very own Rich Cantillon for receiving the President's Award at the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting! So nice that someone else was taking the pictures so he could receive this award as the Ponca City Chamber President/CEO of our fair community. Remember that connectivity? Rich has always been an exuberant proponent of working and connecting in Ponca City and talks to alot of people. Very much deserved award. Congrats!!

NEW CUSTOMERS..... can be hard to identify and then connect with. Lucky for you small business owners, Dawn Brakey at Pioneer Technology Center Business Services is our local Procurement Technical Assistance Center representative. She knows all the tips and tricks to getting your small business into business with local, state and federal government contracts. You need new customers with guaranteed contracts. Let Dawn show you how to get connected. Upcoming program on July 19 on how to get ready to meet your next government contractor. Sign up now with Dawn at 580.718.4261. Meet tribal, state and federal contractors face to face in August at the ICBS Show in Norman. Find out more on this event here.

Saturdays // Farmers Market at Pioneer Woman // 8 to 11 am

Every Saturday during the summer (and some of the Fall)

make time to get your produce, baked goods, meat

and other local food at the Pioneer Woman circle.

Thursday, June 30 // Head Family, PC Family & Friends Celebration

At Lake Ponca with a huge tent across from

the AMBUC Playground and Pavilion

Monday, July 4th // PCDA Office Closed //

City Central will be closed this day as well.

Happy Fourth of July!

Thursday, July 7 // John McNeese Gallery Ribbon Cutting // 5:30 pm

Make plans to attend right here at City Central.

Tuesday, July 12 // Business on the Balcony // 7 to 8:30 am

Join PCDA on the Balcony for a little food and

a whole lot of networking. Bring a friend and

your business cards.

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GET YOUR CAMP ON....... While PCDA staff continue to get work done on several building projects, City Central is getting ready to host some great events: camping, birthdays, dancing in the Courtyard, DXDT and so many others. But lets talk about those campers. There are the Pioneer Tech Career Camps for 8th to 10th graders in Firefighting, Mechtronics and Salon Academy that are happening the next few weeks. Find out more here. Though art camp for the first to sixth grade is full, there is always theDoodle Academy, Arts Adventure at NOC in Tonkawa, activities at the RecPlex, all the 27 parks, five splash pads and the AMBUCs area by the swim beach for the kiddos to participate. Why are PCDA staff so into all these summer activities? These activities keep our youths engaged and remembering their childhood fondly. These activities bring them (the yuths) back as adults (read workforce). Some of these camps, Pioneer Technology and Girl Power STEM camp, show our future workforce what jobs are available and what necessary skill sets are needed to perform them.

Workforce recruitment and retention has been in the spotlight for many years, but since the pandemic, it is at a critical point. Engaging family, friends, visitors and the next generation of workforce is vital to keeping the Ponca City economy moving and grooving. So, let's get camping.

Small Business & Information Coordinator

Kat Long

​Kat is the idea lady. She can help you find a gap for a needed start up in the community; think about your current business plan a little differently; assist with writing that business plan and connect you with people to help your inventions and ideas come to life. Her brain is rarely quiet and Kat loves solving your small business issues. If you are looking for information, she can connect you with people who know things.

In the words of Jerry McGuire - LET ME HELP YOU.

IN SEARCH OF.....workforce. Pioneer Tech, K&C Manufacturing and PCDA staff heading to Pittsburg, Kansas to check out the Pittsburg State University's Plastics Engineering Technology program. You may not know this, but there are two companies who work with plastic molding here in Ponca City. To expand their facilities, workforce is at the top of the wish list.

To that end, Ryan Burkett, Trysen Willits, Janet Schwabe, Kirk Brown (and our own Laurence Beliel behind the camera) headed up to the other Pittsburg to start building a pipeline of future employees. 

A WORKFORCE THEME....Ponca Works hosted a remote work luncheon in 2019 with a panel of white collar employees who worked remotely for companies that were headquartered in other states or countries. At the time, people liked the idea of working from home, but it wasn’t as wide spread and so the questions of home bound feelings, workplace comraderies, and how to track performance left many with uncertainty. Fast forward less than one year and the entire world learned how to work from home. While it was more conducive to some industries and positions more than others, remote work is here to stay. Tulsa, Oklahoma was the first to the stage of recruiting those ‘work from homers’ to their communities with incentives, but were soon followed by other cities and states. Now there are full websites that remote workers can browse areas to pick their new place to work from home in. Ponca City started a campaign to recruit these types of workers last month, and Ponca Works has already had over 20 people apply for the program. The incentives we are offering are memberships to organizations, to help new community members get connected and stay here long term. Growing the white collar work force in this way is a new and progressive idea, but with workforce in demand the way it is, can you blame us for trying all the things. If you see new faces around town, tell them “hi” and welcome them to Ponca City. That’s what we are good at, after all, being kind and inclusive.  

WALKABILITY..... happened this week at City Central as 100 people gathered to learn what communities like Ponca City have done to make their community more inviting and well, walkable. It was a full day of speakers from Enid, Oklahoma City and other communities on projects that have increased visitor numbers. Which many times increases population numbers, because we know to be in Ponca City is to love Ponca City. Food trucks brought people outside for more strolling time and the afternoon breakout exercise led to more walking to check out downtown locations such as City Hall, Veterans Plaza and the Library to name a few. Great comments and usable feedback on our Ponca City walkability and placemaking efforts.

Friday, June 17 // Fish Fry for the Small Fry // Standing Bear

See flyer below for details. Begins 6 pm

Saturdays // Farmers Market at Pioneer Woman // 8 to 11 am

Every Saturday during the summer (and some of the Fall)

make time to get your produce, baked goods, meat

and other local food at the Pioneer Woman circle.

Thursday, June 23 // Business After Hours // 5 to 7 pm.

Hosted by Tracy and Kevin Emmons at Grand Central Court

located at 122 E. Grand Avenue. 

Thursday, June 30 // Head Family, PC Family & Friends Celebration

At Lake Ponca with a huge tent across from

the AMBUC Playground and Pavilion

Thursday, July 7 // John McNeese Gallery Ribbon Cutting // 5:30 pm

Make plans to attend right here at City Central.

Rental Property - Available Listings

GET ALONG LIL DOGGIES....... While PCDA staff continue to get several building projects ready to break ground, the 101 Rodeo is in town this week breaking some horses and steers much to our little cowboy hearts delight. This fun weekend has been happening since its founding in 1960. This is a City thing in a big country way. Different months, shorter (and longer) times but essentially, this is a historic weekend. Find out all things 101 Rodeo here and staff will see you at the 101 Rodeo Grounds.

Also happening this week was the always exciting PCDA Board of Trustee Meeting, Dorada Foods celebrating being in Ponca City, a retirement party and more things workforce and industry related. You don't want to miss out, so keep reading!

City Central and Community Development

Lori Henderson, CEcD

​Lori runs the City Central building which is a 75,000 sf office building with multiple meeting space capabilities in downtown Ponca City. City Central boasts a co working space called the Link with plug and play capacity, a conference center called the Summit which can seat up to 600 people at events, and a makerspace open to tenants.  City Central is home to multiple public art installations which promote the beautification and community pride of Ponca City.

DORADA FOODS CELEBRATES…10 years in Ponca City! Monday night the Marland Mansion was the place to be and Laurence and David were there to celebrate with our Dorada friends. Pictured here with Pancho Gonzalez and Ed Lopez, CEO of Lopez Foods. Ed took a chance on a closed Tyson plant in Ponca City back in 2011 and the rest is history. Congratulations to 10 years in Ponca CIty, many millions of McNuggets and over 700+ employees! Cheers to many more years and growth to Dorada in Ponca City.

RETIREMENT PARTY.....this week for Dr. Robert Howard. You may know him from his SHRM Leadership time, or his HR Management at all the iterations of Tyson Meats prior to Dorada Foods in 2011 or from his time at PIoneer Technology Center first as a Board Member for 20 years and then as Incubator Manager in Business Services. Staff is sure of one thing: we all know Robert. His retirement party this week was well attended and he was sent off with many well wishes and handshakes. And the most amazing commemorative t-shirt quilt. Enjoy retirement Robert. We know you will stay busy.

FOND FAIRWELLS......continued at the PCDA Board of Trustees meeting yesterday as our favorite Cowboy Lee Evans hung up his PCDA Chairman hat. Lee has been instrumental in PCDA's success as Ponca City's economic development arm by championing existing company growth programs such as the Trade Show Brigade and the Shared Equipment program in the AIP. This is the second time Staff have thanked Lee for his leadership and we hope he remembers us fondly as he rides off into the sunset. Thank you Lee for sharing your time and talents.

OKCONNEX..... has been enhanced. Join the Manufacturing Alliance next Wednesday, June 15, and get a look at the new user interface of Connex Oklahoma. The online walk-through is set for 11 a.m. CT.

 

Register Here

 

Connex Oklahoma is a unique online database tool developed by the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The free platform allows manufacturers to connect, find alternate suppliers, explore production capabilities, and view their supply chain visually. Just as important, it also helps manufacturers identify single-supplier risks, and find opportunities for diversification in their supply chain.

 

If you haven't confirmed your Connex Oklahoma profile, do it today: Connex Oklahoma Website

Friday, June 10 // Reputation Management // Pioneer Technology Center

9 to 3 pm Learn how to protect and proclaim your good name.

$65 for session, lunch included. See flyer below.

June 9-11 // 101 Rodeo // 101 Ranch Rodeo Grounds

"Let's Rodeo" Wear your best western wear all week!

Volunteer at the Rodeo. Call 765-4400 to get signed up.

Tuesday, June 14 // Business on the Balcony // 7 to 8:30 am

Stop by the City Central Balcony, 2nd Floor, for a little breakfast

and a lot of networking. Meet local employers and employees.

Wed, June 15 // OK CONNEX Online // 11 am

Register here to see all the new features on the OK CONNEX

Free supplier/contract opportunity platform

Friday, June 17 // Fish Fry for the Small Fry // Standing Bear

See flyer below for details. Begins 6 pm

Thursday, June 23 // Business After Hours // 5 to 7 pm.

Hosted by Tracy and Kevin Emmons at Grand Central Court

located at 122 E. Grand Avenue. 

Rental Property - Available Listings

AND SO IT BEGINS.... Summer in Ponca City. Well, kinda. This weekend brings, for Ponca Citians, fairly cool temps for the usual kick off to summer: Cruisin' Grand and Herb Festival. If you are new to our fair city, welcome. And head downtown Friday night to experience small town America and some amazing vehicles. Get up early Saturday for the opening of the Farmer's Market at the Pioneer Woman Circle and then head over to Herb Festival at LA Cann Gardens. Still looking for something to do? Schooner's Car Show is out at Lake Ponca; Take your frisbees with you and run one or both of the Frisbee Golf Courses out there.

Why does PCDA staff wax ecstatic about all these goings on? Quality of life baby. Quality of life. Though Ponca is only 90 minutes from everywhere (golden triangle of Wichita, OKC and Tulsa), staying inside the city limits on weekends such as this, and with gas prices climbing, definitely has appeal. Staff didn't even mention Star Wars, The Fly-in or the Flea Market! If you want more information, click on this link for all the things and keep reading for the 411 on going fishing (PCDA style) , student employee pipelines, Rodeo Week and grant funding for Ponca City businesses and non-profits.

Launching

David Myers, CEcD

​David has worked with countless companies to show them that Ponca City is a business-friendly, inclusive and fun town. For example, if your company makes a product or sells a non-trade service to customers outside of the local market, PCDA can often help with some of the most flexible and streamlined incentive programs in the nation, all with a single vote of the PCDA Board of Directors. Information, connections, workforce resources, and more.

Contact David here.

FISHING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT…The connection between fishing and economic development here is really metaphorical. PCDA has seen a number of leads with companies that want big, big things. Is it real or are some simply throwing a line into the water to see what’s there and/or what a community is willing to do to attract them? Companies often will contact economic development organizations like PCDA and say that they want, for example, 500 acres for a plant that will create 2,500 jobs and will pay big time bucks. Obviously, your friendly neighborhood PCDA is going to jump all over that if we have anything close to what they want. It is the “what they want” that is sometimes telling. We’re not talking about incentives: that conversation will happen down the road if it goes that far..... keep reading here.

PONCA WORKS IS HAPPY.....to announce that Ashlea Hagar, a Wildcat Intern, who interned with Hurst Construction for two semesters her senior year, is now an official employee! We are excited to see her pursuing her career with Hurst after graduation this year.

If you are not signed up to be a part of our joint internship program with Ponca City Public Schools, then your company is missing out on this pipeline of future employees.

Contact us today for more information. Lleaming@goponca.com 580.765.7070

Congratulations to both Ashlea and Hurst Construction!

RODEO WEEK......begins next week, so cowboy up. Brush off your jeans, boots and hats and support the 101 Rodeo in our community. Rodeo Week means horses, performers, music and parades and a nice economic boost from visitors! Come for the rodeo; stay for the dancing and live bands (Great Divide Friday Night). Again with the quality of life stuff, but it is important. And a great way to find your tribe.

Find out the complete 101 Rodeo Schedule here and make sure to mark your calendar for the Parade Saturday morning at 10 am. Great participation and so much fun for kids & adults.

SHOW ME THE MONEY.....to 32 small businesses and 18 non-profits in Ponca City. Notifications are going out this week to those receiving funds from the Ponca City Grant from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds the City of Ponca City requested. PCDA has been excited to partner with the City on this project.

More information about recipients and funding coming soon.

Saturday, June 4 // Ponca City Herb Festival // LA Cann Gardens

Make sure to drop by the award winning Herb Festival

8 to 4 pm. New Plant Vendors as well as workshops & wine!

Wednesday, June 8 // Workshop for Business // Pioneer Tech

Register for this informative program. 11:30 to 1:30 pm.

Call 580.718.4222 to sign up. $10 includes lunch

Friday, June 10 // Reputation Management // Pioneer Technology Center

9 to 3 pm Learn how to protect and proclaim your good name.

$65 for session, lunch included. See flyer below.

June 9-11 // 101 Rodeo // 101 Ranch Rodeo Grounds

"Let's Rodeo" Wear your best western wear all week!

Volunteer at the Rodeo. Call 765-4400 to get signed up.

Tuesday, June 14 // Business on the Balcony // 7 to 8:30 am

Stop by the City Central Balcony, 2nd Floor, for a little breakfast

and a lot of networking. Meet local employers and employees.

Thursday, June 23 // Business After Hours // 5 to 7 pm.

Hosted by United Country Shaw Real Estate

located at 300 N Fairview Ste. 2. 

Rental Property - Available Listings