Blog Archives

September 24, 2021

9/24/2021

ALUMNI IN THE HOUSE..... September is always a very busy month here in Ponca City. School is back in full swing, football Fridays, Cherokee Strip events (last weekend) Art Festival and Brewfest and PoHi 50th Class Reunion (this weekend) and Octoberfest at the Mansion and Cinderella at the Poncan Theatre next weekend. Whew. It is nice to be back to our "normal" for Ponca City. Because our Ponca City normal is outside; at the lake; on the Mansion grounds and downtown walking around. This is just a small reminder from us to you that you, dear citizen, can create the community YOU want: economically, socially and creatively. And boom, you get all those things in September. And then October.

The economics of building a community others want to be part of is something staff discusses often and brainstorms around in the office. There is no better time than now to ask all these questions: What attracts workforce to a community? What are the needs of those (workforce and businesses) relocating? How to make the "necessities" such as childcare, housing and healthcare "appropriate and accessible". And of course, quality of life which includes all the above mentioned activities like beer tasting, artists, entertainment and reunions. We are excited to hear of the addition of Bird Scooters to the fun things to do in our community. Find out more on the Bird Scooters here.

THE NOVEMBER PITCH-OFF.... is just around the corner for those with a great business idea or an existing business ready to get to the next level. Maybe you are an inventor or product developer ready to launch the next big thing. We want YOU to write that business plan and pitch your idea to our group of judges on Friday, November 12. Business Plans need to be submitted by Monday, November 1st to be considered for this Pitch-off. Not ready? There will be another PItch-off in June of 2022.

Call Kat at 580.761.3028 or Ben Evans at 580.718.4262 to get started on your business plan writing. You will have access to a great online resource called LIvePlan to help you write and refine your plan. What are you waiting for? Your future is just a PITCH away!

Century Products doesn’t just have a new logo but they are offering exciting new agricultural products from their new (to them) building in the Airport Industrial Park! Stay tuned for even more product announcements.

Thank you for making Ponca City your home!

LEADERSHIP

The 35th Ponca City Leadership class participated in history day this week. Thank you Rich Cantillon for the amazing pictures at all our wonderful Ponca City historical sites. This one at Standing Bear was worth repeating.

The Ponca City Leadership program is a wonderful way to learn more about your community. If you or your business is interested, April 2022 is the application time for next year. Get involved in your community. Look at that sky!

As Fall finally hits us with these cooler temperatures, staff are cozying up for some good brainstorming sessions in the office. Conversations we’ve had with employers (You!) is the need for employees but you’re too busy and overwhelmed with the day to day performance metrics and fires to put out that revamping your hiring process or finding ways to fill your pipeline of future employees is not possible. It’s often large corporations who are good at this because, let’s face it, they have an entire recruiting department and extra staff to set up processes.

How can you, the hometown employer, take some of these processes and adapt them to work for you? It’s by doing the little things:

See if your employee(s) who may retire in two years can have an apprentice or intern position to train.
Utilize the internships offered at local schools: PCPS, PTC and NOC all offer internship programs which give students class credit.
Have your employees be a part of mentoring programs at elementary schools.
Train your current employees to take over for more advanced jobs by slowly adding to their skill sets.
Keep your current employees satisfied by offering some depth of care about them as a whole person including opportunities to better themselves, and be creative with benefits for their work/life balance.

If any of these sound like you could accomplish them, but need a little direction – call us! We’d be happy to share our info and connections to help you get started.

Saturday, Sept 25th // Brewfest // City Central Courtyard

Hosted by the Ponca City Main Street. Sample home brewers beers while checking out the ART. Contact Ponca City Main Street for tickets.

Saturday, Sept 25 // PC Art Festival // Central Fare

Hosted by the Ponca City Art Association all day at Central Fare,

Across from City Central. Sample some beer, buy some art!

Sept 30-Oct 3 // CINDERELLA // Poncan Theatre

Evans Academy of Performing Arts production Cinderella is all weekend.

Get your tickets online or at the door.

Sat & Sun, Oct 2-3 // Octoberfest // Marland Mansion

Make sure to get the family to this fun event the first weekend in October.

Thurs, Oct 7 // Lt. Governors Travel & Tourism Summit // City Central

For more information or to register for the Summit in the Summit, click on this link:

Monday, October 11 // Columbus Day // Federal Holiday observed

Just a reminder why the banks are closed this day.

Thursday, Oct 14 // PCDA Regular Board Meeting // City Central - Gravity RM

Get up bright and early and join the PCDA Trustees at the regularly scheduled

Board Meeting at 7:30 am. Public is welcome.

Thursday, Oct 21 // Goblins on Grand // Downtown Main Street

Mark your calendars and get those costumes ready. All ages welcome; Family event

Thurs, Nov 4 // PTC Foundation Roast for Bill Coleman// Pioneer Technology Center

You want to get tickets for this one: Bill Coleman being Roasted in the new Pioneer Technology Center Conference Center. Get your tickets now here

POSTPONED - September 30 // Po Hi Hall of Fame Banquet - POSTPONED

Has been postponed. Keep your tickets and stay tuned for the future date announcement.

Find out about the inductees here

Rental Property - Available Listings

Visit our website

‌

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September 17, 2021

9/17/2021

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SHIFT HAPPENS..... and never more than after a worldwide pandemic. And when the economic community talks of "Shift" it can be industry, workforce, retail, or any number of topics and areas which impact our economic health. Think of how food service has changed. Or the "open hours" at Walgreens or Walmart. The days of "open 24 hours" may be a thing of the past due to workforce and supply shortages. And what do consumers do? We shift. Changing habits; changing schedules; change period. This is shift.

The past few weeks PCDA staff has been meeting with businesses in Ponca City to assess business needs including hours, employees, products, issues both positive and negative; and it has been very informative. If you are reading this and thinking "I AM having trouble finding workforce," you are not alone. Every employer is having issues with this very subject. Some areas like emergency resources and broadband access received very high marks, with other areas such as supply chains, shipping and workforce....well, let's just say those had lower scores. Welcome to the shift.

You are in good company.

3D illustration of a compass with needle pointing the word change. Concept of paradigm shift

THE SPLASH CO SURVIVAL SWIM..... had their official ribbon cutting last Friday and it was very well attended. The Splash Co is the Summer 2021 Ponca City Business Plan Pitch-Off winner and are signing up students (children ages six months to six years) for the next session of survival swim classes starting in October. If you want to know more,check out the website or this informational video or follow them on Facebook. Brittney Rector is everywhere teaching kids and promoting water safety.

CHAMBER BUSINESS PARTNER.....Kelly Cross, Chair of the Ponca City Business Council presented My Media Matters with the September Chamber Business Partner of the Month award for September. The Chamber Business Partner participates in Chamber events, supports the business community and is integral to small business success. Yup, that about sums it up. Proud of My Media Matters involvement in the community.

Truck Driver Appreciation Week

How does your food get to the market? Your supplies to Lowes or Walmart? Raw materials to industry? By truck, train and airplane. This week, we celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Because they, trucks and their drivers, bring us our stuff. Click here for a message from Garrett Bowers, owner of Bowers Trucking & Logistics. And of course, they are hiring as well.

Automation

WHAT’S IN A NAME???...You hear a lot about “robots” being used more and more in business and the image it produces depends upon your imagination. The reality is that a robot is nothing more than a machine, and we have had those for a long, long time. Machines can do more these days thanks to the integration with better computing, but the fundamentals remain the same. A lot of people worry that “Robots” or “robotics” will replace jobs. With all of the “help wanted” signs flying around, this is less of a concern but still a rallying cry. Robotics, or automation as it used to be called in decades passed, does certainly change jobs. A single worker that used to produce 300 widgets could, as an example, possibly produce 2,000 with the help of robotics. On one hand, they will almost certainly be paid more because their skill level will have to go up to operate the robot (the automation). On the other hand, “they” may not be the same person if the original worker does not have, or cannot get the skills, needed to operate the robot. We could cuss and discuss all day long but it’s really misleading to suggest that there is an option not to use robotics. It has been happening, it is happening right now, and it will continue to happen in the future with or without political consent.

Greater automation continues to grow as it has for centuries. The only option is whether or not we want industry and manufacturing in our community, or whether we would prefer they go somewhere else and take the jobs with them. A company that adds robotics typically does not see a big overall change in the number of jobs (yes, there may be impacts to individuals) although they do tend to see rising wages. A company that leaves a community or goes out of business because they can no longer compete does, however, lead to big job losses. It is for this reason that PCDA works with companies seeking ways to become more efficient and employ automation. We do not provide incentives for increased automation but we do provide information, encouragement and networking assistance. PCDA’s goal is to keep Ponca City companies on the cutting edge of industrial technology so that Ponca City continues as a leader in manufacturing. Fighting inevitable change is not a winning strategy and the data strongly points to resistance costing jobs, not saving them. So when you hear about a company adding “robots,” think wage increases, not job losses, and encourage younger folks (and that grumpy so-and-so who seems to think there was something magical about 1953) to get the training they need to participate. We may call it by different names, but the reality is that process improvement has been going on since the invention of the plow.

Saturday, Sept 18 // PetsTival Run & Fun Day // Lake Ponca Park

Runners, walkers and animal lovers - head out to Ponca Lake on Saturday to support Ponca CIty becoming a No-Kill Community. Run begins at 9 am. See flyer below.

Saturday, Sept 25th // Brewfest // City Central Courtyard

Hosted by the Ponca City Main Street. Sample home brewers beers while checking out the ART.

Contact Ponca City Main Street for tickets.

Saturday, Sept 25 // PC Art Festival // Central Fare

Hosted by the Ponca City Art Association all day at Central Fare,

Across from City Central. Sample some beer, buy some art!

POSTPONED - September 30 // Po Hi Hall of Fame Banquet - POSTPONED

Has been postponed. Keep your tickets and stay tuned for the future date announcement.

Find out about the inductees here

Rental Property - Available Listings

Visit our website

‌

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September 10, 2021

9/10/2021

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THIS WEEK..... at the September PCDA Board meeting there was talk of August contacts and meetings with new industry, 44; existing industry, 86; government, 18 and small business, 12. August was slow with leads, but PCDA continues to work seven projects with companies still kicking tires and asking questions about living and working in Ponca City. Another topic was finding and keeping employees. You many have noticed retail and restaurants starting to limit service hours and, in some cases, the days they are open. (Don't blame Starbucks, they have the same COVID/workforce problems as everyone else). Other COVID related impacts included supply chains (or lack thereof) and appropriate and affordable housing.

One plus for Ponca City is we are connected: both in partnerships and our actual broadband connectivity. Broadband availability for small communities is a huge issue. Happily, PCDA will discuss how important and beneficial the City's decision to build out the WiFi access has been for existing and new families as well as businesses in our wonderful community. As COVID continues, and more challenges arise, be kind to each other and let's try to have some patience with retailers, service providers, educators and each other. Our world has been reset and most people are doing the best they (and we) can in the situation given. So now, let's share some good news as we head into the weekend.

THE SPLASH CO SURVIVAL SWIM.....is having their official ribbon cutting today, Friday September 10th, 10:00 am at the RecPlex. The Splash Co is the Summer 2021 Ponca CIty Business Plan Pitch-Off winner and are signing up students (children ages six months to six years) for their next session of survival swim classes starting in October. If you want to know more,check out their website or this informational video or follow them on Facebook. Brittney Rector is everywhere teaching kids and promoting water safety. See you at the RecPlex. Today. At 10 am.

CONGRATULATIONS

PCDA is run by a board of directors who are appointed by our City Commissioners. These board members are fiscally responsible, and create procedures and policies for doing what PCDA does best - growing the economy! Last week, not one but two of our excellent board members were recognized as top Five under 40 by the Ponca City Main Street. While we already knew that they were the top, it's nice to make it public. Congrats to Erica Fetters and Garrett Bowers who make this community a better place.

WORKFORCE

Do you ever have trouble putting together a skills list for new hires? Job descriptions for your long term term employees and what they do day to day? Or perhaps organizing a job description for the collection of jobs that are falling through the cracks from everyone else which actually needs to be a new position! We understand. It’s a tough spot to be in, and the easiest answer is a quick internet search or a generically named, and even more generically put together, job description. A quick edit for use and hope it brings you the right person. We beseech you, in the name of all things good, to STOP doing this! It does a disservice to your company and to your new hire. The expectations are long lost in translation; your company voice is not consistent and your interviewees will be under prepared and even more confused after the interview than when they walked in the door.

In addition, you’re not even sure if the right candidate is in the room with you, because you may not have attracted the correct applicants. We can feel your jaw clenching, because there is nothing more vexing then thinking of writing a cohesive and useful job description on a Friday afternoon, especially during Cherokee Strip Weekend. Take a deep breath, in through the nose, out through the mouth. There. Now open your eyes and know there is hope at the end of this dark tunnel. Writing job descriptions, hiring for your company, how to hire from within and creating a better company culture are all things Ponca Works has researched and is ready to share examples of best practices. We’d be happy to discuss your needs and help come up with something that can make your job descriptions easier. Give Ponca Works a call today (580.765.7070) or send an email to Liz . Assistance is just one call/email away.

Business Owners Can Get Their Share of 500 Billion

Pioneer Tech is hosting a free workshop that will help businesses gain a better understanding of how to sell to government agencies. The lunch and learn, Get Your Share of Over $500 Billion, will be held from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Wednesday, September 15th here at City Central in Room 3C. To register for this event or for more information about the Bid Assistance Program at Pioneer Tech, contact Dawn Brakey by phone or email [email protected].

With over 300 offices, PTAC’s form a nationwide network of more than 600 dedicated professionals who work to help local businesses successfully sell their products and services to government agencies. Dawn Brakey, local PTAC counselor, has served over 300 clients in 2020 and helped them win an estimated 73 million in government contracts and subcontracts. “My goal is to help companies find new opportunities and grow their business,” says Dawn Brakey. “By helping businesses, Pioneer Tech can stimulate the creation of new jobs and economic growth in our communities.”

Get signed up now by calling 580.718.4312 or email [email protected].

Tuesday, Sept 14th // South Wind Casino Job Fair // City Central

Start your new career with South Wind Casino from 4 pm until 7 pm at City Central.

Wed, Sept 15 // National PTAC Day // Pioneer Tech Center

Lunch & Learn 11 to 1 pm. Register by calling Dawn at 580.718.4312

Saturday, Sept 25th // Brewfest // City Central Courtyard

Hosted by the Ponca City Main Street. Sample home brewers beers while checking out the ART.

Contact Ponca City Main Street for tickets.

Saturday, Sept 25 // PC Art Festival // Central Fare

Hosted by the Ponca City Art Association all day at Central Fare,

Across from City Central. Sample some beer, buy some art!

September 30 // Po Hi Hall of Fame Banquet

Buy your tickets today for the Po Hi Hall of Fame at City Central

Find out about the inductees here

Rental Property - Available Listings

Visit our website

‌

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September 3, 2021

9/3/2021

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COST OF LIVING..... is something we pay attention to in the economic development world, because you, dear consumer, pay attention to food, home, fuel, healthcare and miscellaneous living costs every day. Luckily, Ponca City pencils out 10 to 12 percent lower cost of living than places like Pittsburg, Pennsylvania or Austin, Texas. And with our current cost of living index hitting right at 86.1 percent of the national average, a steak in Ponca City is three dollars cheaper than Louisville, Kentucky or Juneau, Alaska. How do we know these exact prices?

Every quarter of the calendar year (except for parts of 2020 during COVID shutdown) staffers go out into the grocery aisles, stores and restaurants and collect pricing on 26 different items and smile and dial for the other 40 or so item prices. Our counterparts in other states and cities do the same thing, at the same time. All of us then sit down at the computer and input ALL these numbers. About six months later, numbers are tabulated. collated and put into wonderful spreadsheets for viewing by The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness. The scoring process is based on 100%. For instance, Ponca City is 86.1 percent of the 100 percent while Plano, TX is 111 percent and Seattle, WA is 150 percent. These cost of living items include food, fuel, housing prices, healthcare and things like pet care and clothing costs. This is one of the reasons Ponca City made the top 10 ranking of Kiplinger's Least Expensive Places to Live. So if you see staff with a clipboard at the grocery store, now you know the rest of the story.

RIBBON CUTTINGS.....have been happening right and left in Ponca City and that is a very good thing! Our active Ponca City Chamber has several more ribbon cuttings on the upcoming calendar, which you can find here. Attending is a great way to show your local businesses all the love and check out new businesses in our area. PCDA staff were at the Junction West Cabins & RV Park ribbon cutting this week and are looking forward to The Splash Co Survival Swim ribbon cutting next Friday at the Recplex, 10 am. (Splash Co is the Summer 2021 PCDA Pitch-off Winner).

Junction West Cabins & RV Park is located at 3150 W. North Ave, right across from Snyders Chicken & Catering. Hookups for RVs and cute one and two bed cabin rentals. Nikki (the Park Manager) is pictured with the office and a very fun, if very hot, small business pop-up in the background. Find out all the information at theirwebsite JunctionWestponca.com.

IN MEMORY

SPEAKING OF PITCH-OFF.........The PCDA Small Business Pitch-off owes a lot to this woman, Bonnie Cook. She passed away last week, but her contributions to small business here in Ponca City are many: Pioneer Technology Business Incubator Manager, Ponca City Kennel Club Dog Training and the Pitch-off Business Plan Competition. The Pitch-off was developed from her idea for a Ponca City business "Shark Tank" pitch competition. Small businesses were so important to her and we are glad that PCDA still has a little of Bonnie with us each year during Pitch-off season. Rest Well Bonnie!

INTERNSHIPS

Have a project that needs an extra pair of hands and some skills? How about an intern. Attend this Lunch and Learn at the Chamber on September 8th and ask all the questions about having an intern at your location. Pay or no pay. Insurance needs. How many hours? What time frame is the best for an intern? Ask all the questions of Liz Leaming. Call the Chamber to sign up 580.765.4400. Lunch is included.

Business Owners Can Get Their Share of 500 Billion

Pioneer Tech is hosting a free workshop that will help businesses gain a better understanding of how to sell to government agencies. The lunch and learn, Get Your Share of Over $500 Billion, will be held from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Wednesday, September 15th. To register for this event or for more information about the Bid Assistance Program at Pioneer Tech, contact Dawn Brakey by phone or email [email protected].

Get signed up now by calling 580.718.4312 or email [email protected].

Friday, September 3 // DXDT in Central Fare

Free concert at an outdoor venue hosted by the Arts and Humanities Council

Monday, Sept 6 // Labor Day// PCDA Offices Closed

Wed, Sept 8 // Internship Lunch & Learn // Chamber Conf. Room

program in place for your company. Call the Chamber to sign up.

Lunch is sponsored by PCDA.

Tuesday, Sept 14th // South Wind Casino Job Fair // City Central

Start your new career with South Wind Casino from 4 pm until 7 pm at City Central.

Wed, Sept 15 // National PTAC Day // Pioneer Tech Center

Lunch & Learn 11 to 1 pm. Register by calling Dawn at 580.718.4312

Saturday, Sept 25th // Brewfest // City Central Courtyard

Hosted by the Ponca City Main Street. Sample home brewers beers with over 100 taps.

Contact Ponca City Main Street for tickets.

Saturday, Sept 25 // PC Art Festival // Central Fare

Hosted by the Ponca City Art Association all day at Central Fare,

Across from City Central. Sample some beer, buy some art!

September 30 // Po Hi Hall of Fame Banquet

Buy your tickets today for the Po Hi Hall of Fame at City Central

Find out about the inductees here

Rental Property - Available Listings

Visit our website

‌

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September 24, 2021

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