Blog Archives

August 26, 2022

8/26/2022

DID YOU HEAR.....the bells ringing this week? School is officially back in session. And since it is Friday Night, time for the band, the cheering and Friday Night Football! It just doesn't get more community based than high school sports. Getting back into the swing of events includes more business openings, ribbon cuttings, workforce growth and internship opportunities.

Keep reading to find out more details about all the economic happenings in Ponca City.

STUDENTS....have the opportunity to participate in internships as part of their education this year. If you know of a junior or senior not sure what they want to be when they finish high school or what training would be best for them after PoHi, check in with the counselors office and see what internships are available. Ponca City companies need workforce and statistically speaking, businesses are more likely to hire interns as full timers after graduation. Find your students counselor here and get that kid an internship.

OUR FRIENDS.....at Pioneer Technology Center have endured and triumphed over construction and supply chain issues to be able to have the official ribbon cutting of their expanded facilities. New programs, larger meeting spaces and new program facilities can be toured during the festivities happening Tuesday, September 13th 5:30 to 6:30. If you don't know the address, make sure to GPS your way to 2101 N. Ash and check out all the newness. So happy for our partners as they go into this school year.

WORKFORCE, WORKFORCE, WORKFORCE......our friends at the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provide education, support services, and access to employment to current and future workforce. All their services are free to employers and job seekers alike. WIOA partners with businesses to get program participants the work experience they need to further their careers. There are certain eligibility guidelines that job seekers must meet to utilized these programs. Is your business needing in demand skill sets? Not sure what that means? Well, sign up for this Lunch & Learn program on September 8 and find out how your business can utilize this program to hire well trained employees. Call the Chamber at 765-4400 to register.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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.

Friday, Sept 2 // DXDT // Central Fare 6 to 9 pm

Check out Down by Downtown at Central Fare: music,

food trucks and pop-up shops. Great time to come out

and enjoy the summer fun!

Monday, Sept 5 // Labor Day // Observed

PCDA Offices closed.

Thursday, Sept 8 // PCDA Board of Trustee Meeting // 7:30 am

City Central

Tuesday, Sept 13 // Business on the Balcony // 7 to 8:30 am

On the PCDA Balcony - City Central

Grab some grub and do some networking.

Rental Property - Available Listings

Visit our website

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August 19, 2022

8/19/2022

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT......was happening all over Ponca City this week. Starting last Friday with an epic groundbreaking ceremony at the Duke building all the way through 10 year celebrations for businesses, new teacher meet and greets as well as some requests for information on the phone, email and bat signal. Well, maybe not that last one, but staff felt pretty loved this week with the requests for economic info.

However, the big story this week is the GoPonca.com website with updated menu options and information able to be linked to all our friends websites. Keep reading to find out more and have "Another great day in Ponca City" to quote our Mayor.

A BIG THANK YOU.....to everyone who took time to attend the ground breaking ceremony a Duke. Staff is happy to report the event went like clockwork, with much applause and huge grins from participants. A special thanks for the Ponca City News for making the event front page above the fold and to Meeks LLC for filming Duke's special day. Check out the groundbreaking video here or take a virtual tour ofDuke here.

GoPonca.com…has been revamped every three years like all the marketing and social media consultants advise. This is but a mere refresh so that folks like you can find information easily on the website. Did you know there is a Cost of Living calculator? Or perhaps you didn't know about the Ponca Works Job listings? Maybe you were in the dark about small business programs to help you launch and grow your business? Here are links for all that stuff and so much more. Just click on any of these that strike your fancy and let PCDA help you find information. Can't find something? Just give us a call at 580.765.7070. Phones are a little old fashioned, but hey, staff is here to help.

PCDA would like to give a shout out to our partners at Pioneer Technology Center. This is the start of a great year for them and all of us: new buildings; new programs and some great workshops from our Business Services crew.

Classes got rolling this week and staff knows we are going to have some great stories to tell very soon. For now, check out the QuickBooks and Marketing programs coming up next month.

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STUFF THE BUS.... is tomorrow at Walmart from 9 to 1 pm. The goal is to "Stuff the bus" completely full with extra school supplies for our wonderful Ponca City teachers. If you are shopping, pick up a few items to donate. If you just want to donate funds, money is always welcome. This is community support at its finest. See you at Walmart.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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.

Friday, August 19 // Party at the Palace // Marland Mansion

Make sure to get your tickets for the best little party on the prairie.

Dance, dine, hang out with your favorite 300 people

at the Marland Mansion. Call 765-4400 to get your tickets.

Saturday, August 20 // Stuff the Bus // Ponca City Walmart 9-1 pm

Head over to Walmart and donate school supplies or

make a cash donation to assist with school supplies.

Students and teachers benefit greatly

from this program.

Friday, Sept 2 // DXDT // Central Fare 6 to 9 pm

Check out Down by Downtown at Central Fare: music,

food trucks and pop-up shops. Great time to come out

and enjoy the summer fun!

Monday, Sept 5 // Labor Day // Observed

PCDA Offices closed.

Thursday, Sept 8 // PCDA Board of Trustee Meeting // 7:30 am

City Central

Tuesday, Sept 13 // Business on the Balcony // 7 to 8:30 am

On the PCDA Balcony - City Central

Grab some grub and do some networking.

Rental Property - Available Listings

Visit our website

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August 12, 2022

8/12/2022

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AN EXCITING WEEK......at PCDA this week which included a full house at City Central with P66 training, PCDA Board Meeting, a gallery opening for the Gene Dougherty exhibit and new tenants. Rounding out the week is the ground breaking at Duke this morning at 10 am. Duke is the fourth spec building in the Airport Industrial Park but all spec buildings are special and deserve a good bottle of champagne......no, that's a ship. Staff will stick with some dirt throwing by current and past PCDA Trustees.

Manufacturing in the AIP is full steam ahead and our wonderful Trade Show Brigade heads to Nashville next month to bring home more contracts the week before the International Economic Development Council's annual conference happens in Oklahoma City. PCDA hopes to have some fantastic news later in September, but for now, keep reading for the stuff we can talk about.

HERES DUKE!!!!!! This is why PCDA will be breaking ground Friday, August 12 at 10 am. Park along Hall Blvd or on the north side of the Duke plot. Just be on the lookout for PCDA staff, blue hardhats and the blue awnings for the presentation.

Check out this virtual tour of Duke now.

PONCA CITY LEADERSHIP…introduced the 36th class to the world this week at the newly renovated Pioneer Technology Center. These bright eager faces are ready to learn all things Ponca City this year with a two day kick-off coming up soon. City and state government, industry, social services, health and history to name just a few of the days of information. This is a great program and kudos to the businesses sponsoring them in the program. PCDA boasts participants from Class of #21 and #29 as well as Laurence and David who participate every year on Industry Day and the final wrap-up. It's a great day in Ponca City! If you or an employee would like to participate in this program, contact the Chamber of Commerce. Registration is April every year.

MEET SOME NEW WILDCAT....... teachers this week at the new teacher luncheon on Wednesday, August 17th. Can't make that event? Sign up to help with Stuff the Bus this year on Saturday, August 20th. It is a great way to support our schools. Volunteers hang out with other volunteers at Walmart as people hand you supplies or donations for our kiddos this year. It is very gratifying and stuffing that bus full of supplies is very rewarding. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at 580.765.4400 if you would like to participate, or just swing by Walmart Saturday, August 20th and well, Stuff the Bus!

UPCOMING EVENTS

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.

Wed, August 17 // New Teacher Luncheon // Country Club

Make sure to get your sponsorship into the Chamber to host

a new to Ponca City teacher. Call 765-4400 to reserve your seats.

Friday, August 19 // Party at the Palace // Marland Mansion

Make sure to get your tickets for the best little party on the prairie.

Dance, dine, hang out with your favorite 300 people

at the Marland Mansion. Call 765-4400 to get your tickets.

Saturday, August 20 // Stuff the Bus // Ponca City Walmart 9-1 pm

Head over to Walmart and donate school supplies or

make a cash donation to assist with school supplies.

Students and teachers benefit greatly

from this program.

Friday, Sept 2 // DXDT // Central Fare 6 to 9 pm

Check out Down by Downtown at Central Fare: music,

food trucks and pop-up shops. Great time to come out

and enjoy the summer fun!

Tuesday, Sept 13 // Business on the Balcony // 7 to 8:30 am

On the PCDA Balcony - City Central

Grab some grub and do some networking.

Rental Property - Available Listings

Visit our website

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August 12, 2022

8/5/2022

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END OF SUMMER......is fast approaching. For the kiddos, this means school is around the corner. For economic development, it means more local businesses looking to grow and/or expand and outside companies seeking a new location. Now, we don't like to brag (or do we) here in Ponca City, but being 90 minutes from everywhere, center of the universe, with great B2B manufacturing collaboration sounds like the perfect place for businesses to start, run and grow. Just ask our companies!

With a new building under construction (keep reading), interest from the State on our manufacturing cluster and current industry in expansion mode, well, let's just say staff is very happy with the current economic churn. Now, let's keep growing that workforce!!!

DUKE THIS IS EVERYBODY. EVERYBODY, THIS IS DUKE…” Next Friday (August 12^th) PCDA will officially break ground on our newest spec building. This one we’re calling “Duke.” If you have been out to the 3.2 acre PCDA-owned parcel of land that is just north of Cookshack world headquarters, you have seen dirt already moving. You may think that the ground has been broken, but it hasn’t been officially broken (just work with us here). “Duke” will be a 39,000 square foot, flex space industrial building that is being built to offer to companies who will grow jobs, wages and more economic vitality for Ponca City. The term “spec building” means it is being built on speculation that we can attract a jobs producing tenant. “Duke” will be PCDA’s fourth spec building and all three previous buildings are home to over 100 Ponca City jobs right now. They, and every other industrial building in town with the exception of the former Smith building (over 210,000 square feet), and a smaller warehouse on First Street (about 15,000 square feet), are being used right now.

PCDA has had to pass on several projects because there was no Goldilocks building in between the very large and the small. The fact that all of the other industrial buildings are occupied and producing jobs is good news and it’s a big reason why the Ponca City economy is strong right now. Tomorrow, of course, is another day so “Duke” is designed to make sure that today’s strong economy stays that way because strong economies do not happen by accident. The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. next Friday, August 12^th so if you’re in the neighborhood, come on by.

WE’RE FROM THE GUV’MENT AND…On Tuesday of this week, PCDA toured two representatives from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce through the Ponca City Airport Industrial Park, visiting two companies and discussing the capabilities of a bunch of others. These particular state folks are in charge of Oklahoma’s automotive recruitment efforts. Those efforts included Tesla, Panasonic, Canoo and others that they can’t name (they also couldn’t tell us). Large projects like these tend to go to big areas that have large workforce “labor sheds.”

PCDA gets to see these big leads (with the company names removed) and those leads usually limit their interest to urban areas or communities within 45 minutes of an urban area. That does not mean, however, that Ponca City cannot benefit from these large projects. Big companies need advanced, sophisticated suppliers to make parts for them. That’s where Ponca City companies come in. Our goal on Tuesday was to make sure that the state people knew the impressive capabilities of Ponca City…and impressed they were. Now, when a new large project is looking at Oklahoma and asks, “Who can make this part for me if I come to Big Town Oklahoma?” the state knows the answer to that question.

BEFORE......was five years ago during the 2017 Girl Power Camp held at Pioneer Technology Center. 20 soon to be eight grade girls discover the allure of welding, power tools and all the products made right here in Ponca City.

Brenna found a love of machining and building that summer.

FAST FORWARD.....to Girl Power Camp this summer and guess who is employed at CME as a new hire? Yup, congrats Brenna. And congrats to Ponca Works for the outreach to keep future workforce working in Ponca City. (Brenna is on the right of the picture with her CME co-workers). A big thank you to all the companies that allowed the Girl Power campers to tour their facilities.

NETWORKING ON THE BALCONY....is happening next Tuesday. Perhaps you are seeking answers to business questions. Or would like to get in front of another Ponca City business owner to team up. Or you are ready to start your entrepreneurship journey. All of these things could happen at Business on the Balcony. City Central hosts this early morning networking session every second Tuesday during April thru October. You never know who might be networking; your next employee or resources for your business questions. See you at B on the B, Tuesday August 9th: 7:00 to 8:30 am. Come & go.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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.

Friday, August 5 // Health Fair at Carolyn Renfro Center

Hospice of North Central OK & Ponca City Senior Center

are hosting this Health Fair from 1 to 3 pm.

see flyer below for details

Friday, August 5 // DXDT // Central Fare 6 to 9 pm

Check out Down by Downtown at Central Fare: music,

food trucks and pop-up shops. Great time to come out

and enjoy the summer fun!

Tuesday, August 9 // Business on the Balcony // 7 to 8:30 am

On the PCDA Balcony - City Central

Grab some grub and do some networking.

Wed, August 17 // New Teacher Luncheon // Country Club

Make sure to get your sponsorship into the Chamber to host

a new to Ponca City teacher. Call 765-4400 to reserve your seats.

Friday, August 19 // Party at the Palace // Marland Mansion

Make sure to get your tickets for the best little party on the prairie.

Dance, dine, hang out with your favorite 300 people

at the Marland Mansion. Call 765-4400 to get your tickets.

Rental Property - Available Listings

Visit our website

‌

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