LOOKING AT NUMBERS......and statistics and databases can sometimes get you called a numbers nerd.  However, staff likes to delve into the numbers now and again.  For instance, this week the third quarter Cost of Living Index (COLI) numbers were released and Ponca City is looking pretty good.  You know why?  Because inflation, higher food costs, rising medical and high utilities are everywhere.  How Ponca City handles these highs and lows makes the difference.  Cost of living numbers are based on six areas: housing, utilities, food, health & beauty, transportation and miscellaneous items like wine.  If you want to see the full numbers, check out the Cost of Living calculator on the goponca.com website.  You can see all the individual prices as well as compare cost of living in other United States locations.   For instance,  a doctor's visit here in Ponca City is more than half of a visit in San Francisco.  Steak prices are pretty close, but apartment rental is over $3500.00 in dear San Fran as compared with $525 here.  Any location in the U.S. that collects COLI info every quarter, is listed on the calculator.  The grass is not always greener.  Well, the grass may be, but I'll take our steak prices here in Ponca City. 

Cost of living is based on a score of 100:  Below 100, you are below the national average with pricing in these areas.  Above 100:  your community, city, or region is above the national cost of living average.  Ponca City is sitting at 85.7 after third quarter.  For all you data wonks out there, staff promises to keep you updated on how Ponca City pencils out for 2022. 

SPEAKING OF NUMBERS…One of our favorite times of year happened last week:  Goblins on Grand.  And staff doesn't care who you are, having a main street full of over 1000 people including kids, grandkids, cousins and the neighbor next door is a good time.

Throw in some of our favorite manufacturers (thank you Dorada Foods) and some of our other industries (shout out to Bowers Trucking and Logistics) and everyone had an amazing evening.  Sorry if you missed it.  There is always next year. 

YOU STILL HAVE TIME......time to get tickets to the best show in town. The Bill Coleman Roast happening on Thursday, November 3. That is next week people. Yes, October is on it's way out and we are halfway through November! Well, not really, but things are moving pretty fast. 

And Pioneer Technology Center is pulling out all the punches with guest roasters Dave May, Sean Anderson and Barry Bickle is Master of Ceremonies. You will not want to miss this Roast!!!

PCDA TRUSTEES.... added a little bling to their standard Board of Trustee picture this month. PCDA Trustees are usually seven strong, but every so often a photo op comes along that just can't wait. Did staff mention three PCDA programs received four awards and two of the marketing videos were honored by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Oh, we did? 

These programs and videos would not be in existence without a stamp of approval from the Trustees.  Just another proud PCDA moment.  Staff thanks all of our Trustees (pictured and not pictured) for their time, direction and leadership. 

Fri, Oct. 28 // State of the Schools// City Hall 12 to 1 pm

Ponca Politics Forum 

Thursday, Nov 3// Bill Coleman Roast // Pioneer Tech Center

Don't miss this roast of Senator Bill Coleman, owner of the popular

Team Radio Stations located at the historic Poncan Theatre. 

For more information or to buy tickets,

www.pioneertech.edu/about/foundation

or call 580-762-8336

Sat, Nov 5 // Geek Garage Sale-Costume Contest // 9 to 5 pm

Ponca Don't miss the Geek Garage Sale and costume contest/Pon Con

being held at City Central, The Summit Room. 

Entrance to the event is free; vendors will be onsite .

Saturday, Nov 5 // Veterans Day Parade // Downtown

Chamber has parade forms for participating in this

largest Veteran's Day Parade in Oklahoma.

Great way to showcase your business to hundreds of parade attendees.

Thurs, Nov 17 // PTC Holiday Market // 9 am to 2 pm

Join Pioneer Technology Center students and staff as they host

a Holiday Market for the Public. 

Proceeds benefit Career Tech Student Organizations. 

Rental Property - Available Listings

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED ......some new things around town: mainly signage. New signs downtown; new company signs and just more signs. Trying to catch shoppers and customers attention is hard. Now, take that to the city level. How does a community put up signs for their customers and new clients? Think buildings, jobs, accessible broadband, easy plug and play office space and of course, activities for families and individuals. And boy is this Fall full in Ponca City. 

PCDA staff were all over Goblins on Grand, volunteering here and assisting there. The Poncan Theatre corner is alive with all kinds of movies and activities for the kids and adults alike, and the Veteran's Day Parade prep is in full swing. If you can't find something to do in Ponca City this month, you definitely are not trying hard enough.

NON-PHOTO OP…One of the fun things about building projects is watching them go up. As you probably know, PCDA has two major building projects under way right now. One is the Duke spec building project going up just north of the Cookshack building west of the airport. The second is the Cookshack building located, wait for it, just west of the airport. The Cookshack project is adding 10,000 square feet onto that building. You may have appreciated that more if you saw the building going up. 

This, however, was a photo op that did not happen for most people because: a) The building went up so fast; and B) The building matched the original building so seamlessly that very few people even know it expanded. Don’t get PCDA wrong, we’re happy the building went up fast because it gets it into use more quickly. It’s also true that PCDA did get pictures of it going up because we knew it was happening. We’re just taking this opportunity to point out that it did happen for anyone who missed it. If that is you, not to worry, the “sticks in the air” on Duke will happen soon so get your phone ready for some glorious pictures. 

AT WHAT POINT...does one cut and run? That was a question for PCDA this week as a company came to town to look things over. Mind you we wanted them to come to town. This was a company involved in an emerging industry that is getting a lot of attention these days (the industry, not the company) and the company seemed to fit Ponca City from the standpoint of projected workforce needs, property needs and so forth. Initial research into them raised a couple of red flags but that suggested caution, not outright dismissal. When they arrived, they went to see an existing local company and spent some (lack of quality) time with them. Then, PCDA showed them the Smith Building, the soon-to-be Duke building and a nice piece of industrial property. All good, they said.

As day one went on, we couldn’t help but notice that what was said at 2 p.m. differed from what was said at 4 p.m. As it stretched into day two, it became further apparent that what the company had said prior to the visit was, how does one put this, inconsistent with facts. Claims of having plenty of funding, employing “X” number of people and having multiple orders to fill became highly suspect and lacking in any verifiable evidence. No one likes to waste time, and PCDA really didn’t like that this new “company” wasted the time of one of our local industries that was otherwise busy filling orders and generating local paychecks. Now it should come as no shock that not everyone is as truthful as we’re all supposed to be. Part of the job of economic development is this kind of “due diligence.” When it becomes a time bandit for a local company, however, that’s when it becomes time to cut and run.

ONE OF THOSE NEW SIGNS.....waseen around Ponca City.  Though CPM stands for California Pellet Mills, this Indiana based company recently joined forces with Bliss Industries right here in Ponca City.  Stronger together (and with a bigger market share) CPM Bliss is blowing and going with testing and manufacturing.  Congrats for the new signage! 

Only 10 days left.... to get your business plan put together, hammer out the financials and turn it into PCDA for the chance to pitch for over $5000 in incentive funding for your business.  New businesses, start-ups, home-based businesses or your one man shop may be eligible to pitch.  Call or email Kat right now and find out all the details. Past Pitch-off competitors include Aesthetic State of Mind, Survival Swim Co and Vortex Alley Brewing. Click here for all the information on participating in the PItch: How to get started on your business plan and phone numbers for those who can assist with questions.

The Pitch-off is for Ponca City start-ups and micro-businesses (owner/operator/sales/1 person business) ready to grow with a business plan and pitch to local judges for incentives. Hear from past participants and incentive recipients by watching this video.  Next Pitch-off date is November 14th.

Fri, Oct. 21 // Rocky Horror Picture Show// Poncan Theatre

8 and 11:30 pm showings

Dress up or down and Let's do the Time Warp Again.

Sat, Oct. 22 // 'Til Death Do Us Part// Rotary Fundraiser

See flyer below for all the Details. 

Saturday evening at Grand Central Court

Thurs, October 27 // Business after Hours // RCB Bank

PRCB Banks at 14th and Highland will host

Business after Hours from 5 to 7 pm

Fri, Oct. 28 // State of the Schools// City Hall 12 to 1 pm

Ponca Politics Forum 

Thursday, Nov 3// Bill Coleman Roast // Pioneer Tech Center

Don't miss this roast of Senator Bill Coleman, owner of the popular

Team Radio Stations located at the historic Poncan Theatre. 

For more information or to buy tickets,

www.pioneertech.edu/about/foundation

or call 580-762-8336

Sat, Nov 5 // Geek Garage Sale-Costume Contest // 9 to 5 pm

Ponca Don't miss the Geek Garage Sale and costume contest/Pon Con

being held at City Central, The Summit Room. 

Entrance to the event is free; vendors will be onsite .

Saturday, Nov 5 // Veterans Day Parade // Downtown

Chamber has parade forms for participating in this

largest Veteran's Day Parade in Oklahoma.

Great way to showcase your business to hundreds of parade attendees.

Rental Property - Available Listings

WELCOME TO ......mid-October in Ponca City. The air is a little colder, the leaves are falling faster, the air is crisper and smells clean and like paint? Yes, Paint. The PCDA Community Mural Project still has some white space that needs painting. Grab those kids hanging around your house during fall break and come paint a circle or two today at City Central. Then drag those kids over to the new 101 Rand Exhibit at the Marland Grand Home, or the Library and while your at it, check out all the shops on Main Street since it is a Friday and they are all open. Catch some lunch at Grand Cafe, or Taco Stop of even our very own Central Cafe (after or before you paint) but definitely enjoy fall break right here in Ponca City. 

PCDA Staff were busy with building projects. prepping for the Pitch-off competition (get those business plans finalized), meeting with education and business partners and then presenting all of the above to the PCDA Board of Trustees at yesterday's monthly board meeting. Whew. Keep reading to find about about how the PCDA Audit turned out (we know you are so excited) and why a clean audit is important. Last, but not least, Manufacturing Day was celebrated last Friday at Pioneer Technology Center and to that we say "Huzzah" as without our Ponca City Manufacturers, there wouldn't be any BBQ sauce (Head Country), smokers (Cookshack), vacuums (Lindsay) or air conditioners (CME). So many more things made in Ponca City, but you get the idea. Keep reading and enjoy your Fall Break. 

DON’T YOU LOVE A GOOD AUDIT???...Tis the season for campaign promises. A common promise from candidates is to audit this or that public agency to make sure the public’s money is doing what it is supposed to be doing. We’ll save those folks running for office the trouble. PCDA is audited every year. An independent audit firm from out of town comes in, climbs all over the books and meeting minutes, takes statements, crosschecks this, double checks that, ask questions and then renders a verdict. In the audit world, a verdict of a “clean unqualified opinion” is the gold standard.

Yesterday, the PCDA Board of Trustees, who hire the auditors every year, met with said auditors to receive the audit results for this year. The verdict? A “clean, unqualified opinion” meaning everything is as it should be. No scandals, no misappropriation, no one paid that shouldn’t have been paid, all payments made were for the public’s benefit, no one on the payroll that shouldn’t have been, no kickbacks or slush funds…you get the picture. This marks the 19^th straight time PCDA has received a clean bill of health. As a public trust, the “trust” part for PCDA is always the top priority. 

AND WHAT IS THE MONEY USED FOR?...The subject of the audit was the public’s money. The purpose of that money is to manage and grow the local economy. So how is this done? If you’re a visual person, head on out to Enrique's at the airport and look west. You’ll see an expansion taking place at the Cookshack facility. In addition, the new spec building “Duke,” just north of Cookshack, is having foundations poured right now and will soon be a 39,000 square foot industrial building.

A “spec building” means we are going to use it to attract a new company. The vast majority of new companies are looking for an existing building in which they can set up shop (as opposed to raw land) without waiting to build. That’s where Duke will come in. All other industrial buildings in Ponca City are currently being used, which is a great thing. They’re producing jobs and the wages needed to pay for everything else in town. A community must continue to add to make up for things subtracted due to, well, life, and you can’t attract a new company without some place for them to operate. While you’re out at the airport, keep looking out to the west and count the buildings. Everyone of them was built through Ponca City economic development programs. 

Put another way, before the first economic sale tax was passed in 1994, there were no buildings west of the airport and north of Industrial with the exception of the auto repair shop. Makes one wonder what things would look like without economic development. And while it’s impossible to attract new industry without a place to put them (building or land), the good news is that more than 95% of new jobs created in local economies do not come from industrial recruitment. They are created within existing companies which is another use of the public’s money. Be it industrial diversification programs, certifications, small business programs, entrepreneurial support, workforce initiatives and more, economic development is at work making Ponca City one of America’s best place for a manufacturing company to operate.

CELEBRATING MANUFACTURING...was the theme at Pioneer Tech last week. Our very own PCDA trustee Kirk Brown from K&C Manufacturing is on the mic educating PTech students on the ins and outs of owning a business, working with other manufacturers and what the future looks like for Ponca City workforce. 

Students were able to ask questions and talk to a variety of manufacturing representatives (men and women) at this MFG Day event.  Many thanks to our partners at PIoneer Technology Center for hosting this great event.

You still have time to get that business plan together and pitch your fledgling or new startup business to local judges for a chance at $5000 in incentives for your business growth. Past Pitch-off competitors include Aesthetic State of Mind, Survival Swim Co and Vortex Alley Brewing. Click here for all the information on participating in the PItch: How to get started on your business plan and phone numbers for those who can assist with questions.

The Pitch-off is for Ponca City start-ups and microbusinesses ready to grow with a business plan and pitch to local judges for incentives. Hear from past participants and incentive recipients by watching this video.  Next Pitch-off date is November 14th.

Thurs, October 20 // Goblins on Grand// Main Street

From 5 until 8 pm, get your whole family costumed and

head to Goblins on Grand. Bracelets are $2 and can be

picked up at local banks and the Main Street

Office located at City Central.

Thurs, October 27 // Business after Hours // RCB Bank

PRCB Banks at 14th and Highland will host

Business after Hours from 5 to 7 pm

Fri, Oct. 28 // State of the Schools// City Hall 12 to 1 pm

Ponca Politics Forum  

Thursday, Nov 3// Bill Coleman Roast // Pioneer Tech Center

Don't miss this roast of Senator Bill Coleman, owner of the popular

Team Radio Stations located at the historic Poncan Theatre. 

For more information or to buy tickets,

www.pioneertech.edu/about/foundation

or call 580-762-8336

Sat, Nov 5 // Geek Garage Sale-Costume Contest // 9 to 5 pm

Ponca Don't miss the Geek Garage Sale and costume contest/Pon Con

being held at City Central, The Summit Room. 

Entrance to the event is free; vendors will be onsite .

Saturday, Nov 5 // Veterans Day Parade // Downtown

Chamber has parade forms for participating in this

largest Veteran's Day Parade in Oklahoma.

Great way to showcase your business to hundreds of parade attendees.

Rental Property - Available Listings

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.....was happening all over Ponca City this week.  From 1 Million Cups to a new roof on an expansion project to finding out how many building projects submitted permits at the CIty in September.   PCDA staff worked on articles, white papers, graphics and got our notes in order for a couple of interviews happening next week.  There were meetings to finish up,  business plans to tweak for the Pitch-off coming up in November as well as the usual phone calls about demographics (you wouldn't believe the money spent on pets in Ponca City), land, buildings, city broadband questions and meeting room bookings for out of town visitors.  Staff saw announcements for upcoming retail and service business openings, to which we say Congratulations! 

In all this economic churn, the fun that is October is upon us, so get ready for Halloween Happenings all over town.  Shop local, spend local and invite your friends and family to visit during this very busy holiday season.   

ROI.....RETURN ON INVESTMENT is a key factor in any project or program.  PCDA enjoys being strategic with facts and reporting.  Instead of a lot of words, check out the graphic below which gives you, the Ponca City partners and investors, an overview of the last fives years work here at PCDA, by the numbers.   Staff has more facts to share, but this will serve as a start. 

RAISING THE ROOF...... at the Cookshack expansion this week.  This glorious fall weather is aiding builders in their efforts to complete this existing company expansion.  Sticks in the air and roof going on.  The Duke Spec Building is up next for the pad rebar and concrete pour.  Don't worry:  Staff will share pictures as soon as we have them.

You still have time to get that business plan together and pitch your fledgling or new startup business to local judges for a chance at $5000 in incentives for your business growth.  Past Pitch-off competitors include Aesthetic State of Mind, Survival Swim Co and Vortex Alley Brewing.  Click here for all the information on participating in the PItch, how to get started on your business plan and phone numbers for those who can assist with questions.

The Pitch-off is for Ponca City start-ups and microbusinesses ready to grow with a business plan and pitch to local judges for incentives. Hear from past participants and incentive recipients by watching this video.  Next Pitch-off date is November 14th.

Aesthetic State of Mind owners Shannon Somers and Sam Lionelli accepting their incentives check from  David Myers, PCDA Executive Director.  Aesthetic State of Mind received high score at the 2020 PItch-off competition. 

Dr. Margaret Bowman, owner of the Pioneer Vet Clinic was the business featured this week at One Millions Cups.  Her and her husband Brian Lebeda took advantage of COVID to revamp an aging clinic, build new kennels and doggie daycare areas as well as update clinic equipment and services.  

See Dr. Bowman's full presentation here and make plans to attend 1MC next month on Wednesday, November 2nd, 8:30 am at Pioneer Technology Center in the Serminar Room.  Bring business cards for networking and come early to chat with 30 or so of your favorite business people.

Thurs, October 20 // Goblins on Grand// Main Street

From 5 until 8 pm, get your whole family costumed and

head to Goblins on Grand. Bracelets are $2 and can be

picked up at local banks and the Main Street

Office located at City Central.

Thurs, October 27 // Business after Hours // RCB Bank

PRCB Banks at 14th and Highland will host

Business after Hours from 5 to 7 pm

Fri, Oct. 28 // State of the Schools// City Hall 12 to 1 pm

Ponca Politics Forum  

Thursday, Nov 3// Bill Coleman Roast // Pioneer Tech Center

Don't miss this roast of Senator Bill Coleman, owner of the popular

Team Radio Stations located at the historic Poncan Theatre. 

For more information or to buy tickets,

www.pioneertech.edu/about/foundation

or call 580-762-8336

Sat, Nov 5 // Geek Garage Sale-Costume Contest // 9 to 5 pm

Ponca Don't miss the Geek Garage Sale and costume contest/Pon Con

being held at City Central, The Summit Room. 

Entrance to the event is free; vendors will be onsite .

Saturday, Nov 5 // Veterans Day Parade // Downtown

Chamber has parade forms for participating in this

largest Veteran's Day Parade in Oklahoma.

Great way to showcase your business to hundreds of parade attendees.

Rental Property - Available Listings