July 28, 2023

7/28/2023

Friday | July 28, 2023

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Next Wednesday, August 2^nd, the Oklahoma Academy will host a “listening session” on housing, specifically in Kay County and Ponca City. The Oklahoma Academy is a once-a-year forum for state leaders held in the fall to tackle an issue of significant importance to the state. This year, that’s housing. Prior to that aforementioned fall forum, the Academy goes to various places that are experiencing said issue (housing) and listen to the folks that are living the challenge. That housing challenge could be lack of available workforce, not the housing options one wishes for one’s children, age of the homes, condition of homes, other housing issues…you get the idea.

Next Wednesday’s listening session is being done in partnership with the City of Ponca City to provide an opportunity for Ponca City to talk about this issue is impacting us, so please be us and come participate. There will be a light lunch served and there is no cost. You must RSVP, however, and you can do so by emailing [email protected]. Once you do that, you are good to go and you can bring your thoughts, ideas, comments, etc. to the Commission Chambers in City Hall, next Wednesday, August 2^nd from Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Ribbon Cutting for New Emergency Resource Center

You won't want to miss the ribbon cutting ceremony and Open House for the new Ponca City Emergency Resource Center/Police Station on Monday from 2 to 5 pm. As PCDA's neighbors to the south, staff have watched from the beginning as all the pieces have come together. Our emergency services and police officers deserve this state of the art and spacious building to protect and serve.

Make sure you make time to attend the ribbon cutting and tour the new facility. It is very cool. See you Monday, July 31st between two and five.

You Go, Girl!

This week was the season for PCDA’s “Girl Power!” summer camp. We could tell you all about how it has received international recognition, was the first of it’s kind, has been around for years and a bunch of other (true) propaganda. All good stuff but the bottom line is that “Girl Power!” is all about workforce in and for Ponca City. The fact that its been around a while now can be seen in two quick fun facts.

The first is that some past “Girl Power!” campers have now graduated high school and are working in Ponca City companies. The second is that other “Girl Power!” alumni are now helping to teach at “Girl Power!” The camp started back in the day when PCDA noticed that there were very few jobs available in positions more traditionally occupied by females. At the same time, there were a bunch of openings for jobs more traditionally held by men. The goal was to introduce middle school young ladies to the idea that these traditionally male dominated career paths were actually open to them too. So “Girl Power!” continues to introduce young ladies to a lot of careers that need filling in Ponca City. Mind you this isn’t about putting these middle schoolers to work right now in jobs, that would be a no-no. It is about getting them to consider these career paths in Ponca City for their future. Long story short, it’s working and, this week, we were back at it.

Ponca City Celebrates Crazy Days

Crazy Days are happening all over Ponca City this weekend, but especially downtown. Make sure to stop by the Lemonade Stands set up all over Grand and check out all the enterprising young entrepreneurs. This started a few years back and has become a staple of Crazy Days. Sample lemonade, check out Friday evening entertainment and some downtown shopping.

And make sure to come back downtown next Friday for DXDT and First Fridays entertainment. For more information on all the Crazy Days activities, click here for Ponca City Main Street.

New Teacher Luncheon

The annual New Teacher Luncheon will be held on Thursday, August 17th from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Ponca City Country Club. Cost is $50 and covers your meal and a new teacher's meal.

If you want to sponsor more that one new teacher, sponsor a principal or sponsor a school board member, it is an additional $30 per person. Please RSVP to the Chamber of Commerce soon as they have to get a head count for lunches. This is a great opportunity to support our educators as well as introduce yourself and your company to these new teachers. Some of them are new to the community and it's always nice to meet a friendly face.

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 27-29 // Crazy Days // Downtown

Enjoy lemonade stands and sales from the downtown

businesses. See flyer below

Friday, August 4 // First Friday DXDT // Downtown Ponca City

Don't miss this fun evening at the Veteran's Plaza

and with the downtown businesses open late.

Thursday, August 17 // Country Club // 11:30 to 1 pm

Call the Chamber of Commerce to

get your tickets and sponsor a teacher

580.765.4400

Friday, August 18 // Party At the Palace & Auction

Marland Mansion

Get your tickets from the Chamber office 580.765.4400

Thursday, August 24 // First Day of School // Ponca City

Be on the lookout for the kiddos

as they head back to school.

Fall 2023// Business Plan Boot Camp

Are you ready to plan your business? This Boot Camp will

show you how. Hands on. City Central

Contact Kat to get signed up. 765.7070

Rental Property - Available Listings

Visit our website

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July 21, 2023

7/25/2023

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Friday | July 21, 2023

This Week at the PCDA Board of Trustees Meeting

Staff updated the PCDA Board of Trustees this week at the July meeting with 36 new industry contacts, 130 "How are you today?" visits with existing industry as well as 105 "What kind of building is this?" responses at City Central in the month of June. This being July, Staff presented some pretty awesome numbers on contacts for the year with existing companies (up from last year at 1,293) and new companies (also up at 537). These numbers are inline with previous year contacts with consultants, regional partners, government and of course, City Central. Projects nearing completion this week include City Central's HVAC project with the City, Spec Building Duke and The Emergency Resource Center/Police Station also contracted by the City. Other tidbits given were updates on Girl Power Camp (happening next week at City Central), workforce (workforce, workforce) and some not so great CNBC rankings for Oklahoma business, but as a state, we rank number five in the top ten cheapest states to live (insert shrug and sheepish grin here)

Have you hear the story of City Central? Maybe you are new to this newsletter and don't know the history.Well, click here to see the background on how this project came to be, the Federal Grant the City of Ponca City was able to secure for PCDA to complete renovations and see below for where City Central is now.

New Emergency Resource Center/Police Station

How's that for a before and after picture? PCDA is excited to attend the Ribbon Cutting and Open House for the new Ponca City Emergency Resource Center/Police Station on Monday, July 31st from 2 to 5 pm. As PCDA's neighbors to the south, staff have watched from the beginning as all the pieces have come together. Our emergency services and police officers deserve this state of the art and spacious building to protect and serve.

Make sure you make time to attend the ribbon cutting and tour the new facility. It is very cool. See you Monday, July 31st between two and five.

Have You Always Wanted to be Truck Driver

When you were young, did you want to drive big trucks? Maybe you still want to get behind the wheel of a bigger vehicle. Now is the time to check out this in-demand career. Pioneer Technology Center is starting enrollment for their next truck driving school. Rumor has it there might be a school for the younger set of 18 and older.

If you have an interest or want to ask some more questions, give Johnny Thornburg a call at Pioneer Tech. 580.718.4328 or click here to find out more details.

NOC Celebrates New Building for Renewable Energy Program

The development of the new Renewable Energy option and Precision Agriculture Program within the NOC STEM departments was made possible through a U.S. Department of Education Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institution (NASNTI) grant project, Connecting Students to Promising Pathways. This five year grant will enable NOC to fully integrate renewable energy and precision agriculture on the Tonkawa Campus and expand the alignment of training and educating the next workforce for these industries in Oklahoma.

This was the first of many ribbon cuttings for new buildings to support these programs at all three NOC campuses. Congratulations to our NOC family for this great milestone. Cannot wait for the agriculture building to be open. Well attended ribbon cutting and everyone was excited for the next generation of students. Industry partners have already hired from the current graduate pool from these programs.

City Central Continues to Grow Companies

City Central Co-Work Space has been know to grow some companies. Have you heard of My Media Matters? Yup, they own their building on Grand now, but in 2019 they had Link #5. How about Cowboy Driving or Philo Solutions? Maybe you read about Aesthetic State of Minds Third Anniversary last week? All of them started their small business journey in The Link @City Central.

PCDA is proud to have the Kaw Nation, Ponca Tribe, PC Arts, Main Street and many others as tenants in City Central. As a Small Business Pitch-off winner,Sizzle Sauce Media is in Link #2 residence currently. Want to take a tour of City Central or just ask some questions about available office space? Give us a call at 580.765.7070 or just pick up the red phone located at the East and West desks in The Link. Yes, the red phone.

City Central is above 84% capacity with small to medium offices available. The Summit Conference Space in the Lower Level is currently booking for holiday parties and family celebrations as well as local and regional conferences. Capacity is 650 people in chairs and 350 at tables with a caterer's kitchen, tables, chairs and tablecloths part of the rental price. Find out more at CityCentralPC.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 24-28 // Girl Power STEM Camp // City Central

This STEM Camp is for soon to be 8th grade girls

Manufacturing, science, tech & engineering

July 27-29 // Crazy Days // Downtown

Enjoy lemonade stands and sales from the downtown

businesses. See flyer below

Friday, August 4 // First Friday DXDT // Downtown Ponca City

Don't miss this fun evening at the Veteran's Plaza

and with the downtown businesses open late.

Friday, August 18 // Party At the Palace & Auction

Marland Mansion

Get your tickets from the Chamber office 580.765.4400

Thursday, August 24 // First Day of School // Ponca City

Be on the lookout for the kiddos

as they head back to school.

Fall 2023// Business Plan Boot Camp

Are you ready to plan your business? This Boot Camp will

show you how. Hands on. City Central

Contact Kat to get signed up. 765.7070

Rental Property - Available Listings

Visit our website

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July 14, 2023

7/14/2023

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Friday | July 14, 2023

This Week.....

This week PCDA staff were in the building with Business on the Balcony, getting ready for Girl Power, completion and restarting of the HVAC project in City Central and of course, enjoying all the art camp kids in the building each morning. Staff did remark how quiet this group of art camp kids were compared to last year, especially since (Hats off to PC Arts) there are close to 100 kids participating this year; nearly double the amount of campers from last year. In other news, Duke continues to move towards completion and there are frames in the air for the new housing edition at 7^th and Bradley.

Summer is at the halfway mark and the hunt for school supplies is about to begin as enrollment gets into high gear for all the school systems. Keep your eyes open for ways to support our next workforce (those school kids) as fall creeps closer and closer. Now, for more summer! (Staff loves this picture from last year's art camp. Just ignore the masks)

Business On The Balcony This Week

Business on the Balcony this week was very well attended! A special thank you to our local farmers and producers for donating eggs, chicken, breads and jams to make breakfast a local feast.

If you missed this opportunity to hang out and network with your new favorite 50 or so people on the Balcony, mark your calendar for August 8, 7 to 9 am at City Central. A little bit of breakfast; a whole lot of networking.

Congratulations Aesthetic State of Mind

This week the 2020 Ponca City Business Plan Pitch-off winner celebrated three years in business. Congratulations to Aesthetic State of Mind, Ponca City's first and only Med Spa. Owner Shannon Puetz-Somers pitched her business plan to a panel of five judges in June of 2020, during a worldwide pandemic, and never looked back.

After receiving the high score for the Pitch-off competition, Aesthetic opened in July of 2020. Today, Aesthetic has four employees on staff, the owner received her NP in 2022 (click here for the teams total qualifications) and the med-spa has expanded twice. Again, Congratulations to Aesthetic State of Mind for hitting the three year mark and still going strong. Stay tuned for the owners latest venture, also on Grand Avenue: Oklahoma Infusion Clinic (OIC).

Inventors Assistance Available

Stem education concept. Young inventor assambling radio control robot close up. DIY robot in science education class

If you are an inventor or have a great idea for a new product, don't tell yourself you'll get to it later. And if your kid has a great idea, even better. Now is the time to research other products like yours; prototype the idea, get a provisional patent, talk to someone about copyright and trademarking your idea and get that product to market.

Does all this sound scary? That's ok. Stuff worth doing is scary. And PCDA is here to help. Stop by the PCDA office and get more information about getting your product to market. There are a lot of resources available to assist you.

If you need a starting point, make sure to click on this link and check out this "top10 list for product development" from Stephen Keys.

Spec Building Duke Nears Completion

PCDA Staff were hanging out in the AIP this week and had to admire how pretty the new spec building Duke is, as it nears completion. With warmer temperatures, the parking lot concrete should be poured soon. This 39,000 square foot building is available for walk through and staff is actively seeking a tenant for the building which should be completed in the Fall. Any interested companies should call David Myers at the PCDA office, 580.765.7070.

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 24-28 // Girl Power STEM Camp // City Central

This STEM Camp is for soon to be 8th grade girls

Manufacturing, science, tech & engineering

Friday, August 18 // Party At the Palace & Auction

Marland Mansion

Get your tickets from the Chamber office 580.765.4400

Thursday, August 24 // First Day of School // Ponca City

Be on the lookout for the kiddos

as they head back to school.

Fall 2023// Business Plan Boot Camp

Are you ready to plan your business? This Boot Camp will

show you how. Hands on. City Central

Contact Kat to get signed up. 765.7070

Rental Property - Available Listings

Visit our website

0 Comments

July 7, 2023

7/6/2023

0 Comments

Friday | July 7, 2023

Close Only Counts in Hand Granades

With all of our talk about the new spec building, “Duke,” PCDA gets a lot of questions about whether or not companies are interested. Simple answer is “yes.” The real answer, like life itself, is that it’s more complicated. First of all, a lot of companies that have an interest, look at the lack of available workforce in Ponca City and go elsewhere. That is a good thing, not a bad thing. If the goal of economic development is to create jobs for people in Ponca City, the 2.3% unemployment rate in the Ponca City Labor Market indicates that it’s working. The second thing is that Duke is being built to fit the needs of most companies. That is a statistically valid approach to a spec building to minimize risk to public money. Most, however, does not mean all. A building is more than just four walls and a roof and different companies have different needs.

Case in point: PCDA recently had a conversation with a company from out yonder that was looking for a new, available, industrial building. They saw the virtual tour of Duke that PCDA has online, noted the size, shape and the blend of office and shop space. The box of the building worked well for them. Their excitement was high because they needed to get into a building very soon, and the timing on Duke’s completion (Labor Day) was perfect. As the old commercials go, however, “but wait….there’s more!” Their needs went outside the box of the building. They also needed to have a perimeter fence around the entire building. This was a requirement of their customer since the work they did included some very valuable stuff. This was a non-negotiable requirement, not something they could waive with all the smooth talking in the world. If you have been out to cheer on Duke, and who hasn’t, you will note that it shares a common driveway with a neighboring business. There is no physical way to put a perimeter fence there. There just isn’t enough room (let alone the likelihood that buildings regs would not have allowed it) to put a fence down the middle of the common drive area. The parcels were designed that way back in the day for a variety of good reasons. The new company liked Duke so much, however, that they asked PCDA if the adjoining company would move so that they could take over that building too and then fence both structures! This would be physically possible.

Well here’s the thing: PCDA loves new companies, but PCDA loves and values our existing companies even more. So we hated to lose the new company but life, as alluded to above, is three dimensional, not the sanitized version we all see in the news. This story, however, underscores the interest in Duke, the fact that different companies need different things and PCDA’s operating values. Attracting new companies is about fit, and that means the building, the community and so much more. It’s not a one size fits all thing. You either have what they need (and we’re looking at you, workforce), or you don’t. So we move on.

Business On The Balcony Next Week

Next Tuesday, July 11 is Business on the Balcony, the local producers edition. Make time in the morning, 7 to 9 am to visit the Balcony at City Central for a little bit of breakfast and a whole lot of networking. And this one is special. Breakfast will be local eggs, breads, milk, meats and produce for you to sample. And for the networking, the growers of this wonderful fare will be on the balcony. .

This is the ultimate shop local: buy your food from local producers; local small businesses. Everyone is invited to attend, but especially business owners seeking new collaborations or contacts and those new to the community looking for local resources. See you at Business on the Balcony.

Student Internships Fill the Workforce Pipeline

Interns Wanted Internship Training Trainee Concept

This week several businesses attended a Lunch & Learn at Pioneer Technology Center to learn more about the internship program with the High School. The big goal is to grow Ponca City's next workforce and expose them to available career paths. Workforce is a big topic in the economic development world. Heck, it's a huge topic everywhere: Jobs are available and unemployment is very low in Ponca City, Kay County and many other places in the U.S. Exposing high school students to available job training and experiences early is an excellent way to fill the local workforce pipeline.

Over 60 PoHi students participated in the internship program co-sponsored by PCDA. The goal for next year is 100 students. Your business needs to be part of this. One hour a day, Monday through Friday during the school year, broken up by semester. If you need more information or want to ask some specific questions, please call Jordan Jackson-Gross at the High School, 580.718.4878 oremail here.

STAYcation Right Here in Ponca City

This year, Oklahoma is in an El Nino summer. Basically, you don't know if it will be hot or cold, raining or sunny from day to day. And the meteorologists are "best guessing". Welcome to summer in Oklahoma! Thank goodness you live in Ponca City where we are 90 minutes from everywhere and we have two lakes within a 10 minute drive for those really hot days. And the actual drives are pretty scenic as well. Did you know about the prairie dog community on the way to Kaw Lake? Or the swim beach at Lake Ponca? Have you been to Wentz Pool lately and walked the campgrounds or the hiking trails? Perhaps you need to check out the three disc golf courses which have hosted national frisbee golf competitions. And don't forget First Fridays & DXDT this Friday. (flyer is below)

The thing all of these activities have in common is they are outdoors, which is kind of our claim to fame being rural and in the center of all this nature stuff. So take some time with the family, with your significant other, with friends or maybe on your own, to explore this great place we call home.

Family Fun: Time for a Fox Hunt

Don't forget all the art to be found in and around Ponca City This weekend might be an excellent opportunity for a fox hunt right here in Ponca City. Between downtown murals and the large painted foxes located in front of multiple businesses, your kids and any visitors to Ponca will enjoy an early morning or late evening fox hunt.

Click on the fox and check out all the central business district, downtown foxes. Stay foxy people. For more information on the fox statues in Ponca City,take the online tour here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, July 7 // First Fridays & DXDT

Veterans Plaza

6 pm See flyer below

July 10-14 // Ponca City Art Assoc Art Camp //

All week at City Central. Camp is full.

July 24-28 // Girl Power STEM Camp // City Central

This STEM Camp is for soon to be 8th grade girls

Manufacturing, science, tech & engineering

Friday, August 18 // Party At the Palace & Auction

Marland Mansion

Get your tickets from the Chamber office 580.765.4400

Fall 2023// Business Plan Boot Camp

Are you ready to plan your business? This Boot Camp will

show you how. Hands on. City Central

Contact Kat to get signed up. 765.7070

Rental Property - Available Listings

Visit our website

0 Comments

July 28, 2023

Friday | July 28, 2023

Ribbon Cutting for New Emergency Resource Center

You Go, Girl!

Ponca City Celebrates Crazy Days

New Teacher Luncheon

July 21, 2023

Friday | July 21, 2023

New Emergency Resource Center/Police Station

Have You Always Wanted to be Truck Driver

NOC Celebrates New Building for Renewable Energy Program

City Central Continues to Grow Companies

July 14, 2023

Friday | July 14, 2023

Business On The Balcony This Week

Congratulations Aesthetic State of Mind

Inventors Assistance Available

Spec Building Duke Nears Completion

July 7, 2023

Friday | July 7, 2023

Business On The Balcony Next Week

Student Internships Fill the Workforce Pipeline

STAYcation Right Here in Ponca City

Family Fun: Time for a Fox Hunt

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July 28, 2023

Friday | July 28, 2023

Ribbon Cutting for New Emergency Resource Center

You Go, Girl!

Ponca City Celebrates Crazy Days

New Teacher Luncheon

July 21, 2023

Friday | July 21, 2023

New Emergency Resource Center/Police Station

Have You Always Wanted to be Truck Driver

NOC Celebrates New Building for Renewable Energy Program

City Central Continues to Grow Companies

July 14, 2023

Friday | July 14, 2023

Business On The Balcony This Week

Congratulations Aesthetic State of Mind

Inventors Assistance Available

Spec Building Duke Nears Completion

July 7, 2023

Friday | July 7, 2023

Business On The Balcony Next Week

Student Internships Fill the Workforce Pipeline

STAYcation Right Here in Ponca City

Family Fun: Time for a Fox Hunt

Archives

>work

​> LIVE

>do business

>programs

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