PCDA commissioned a housing study for the Ponca City area this year. If you want to read the whole thing, check it out here. Basically, it confirmed the need for housing in Ponca City in the $150,000 to $300,000 range with at least three bedrooms and two baths. Got it. With assistance from the City of Ponca City....,

Oklahoma Housing Stability Program provides 0% interest construction loans for the new construction of single-family homes and for single and multifamily rental housing. Again, if you as a construction professional or investor have ever kicked around the idea of building homes, check out this Oklahoma program. Applications are being accepted now. There are still funds in the Ponca City HIP 2.0 program and the PCDA Incentive program for housing. Two more OHFA application due dates: November 20 and January 2025

It's hard to look at your small business objectively. If you own a retail establishment, how is the flow and shop-ability of your store? Do you like it because it looks pretty or because merchandise sells? This is called merchandising and it is why larger retailers "reset" their shelves and move products around at least twice a year. And so should you. Need an extra set of eyes? Give Kat a call and let PCDA help you create more sales.

In May/June of this year, PCDA Trustees and City Commissioners voted to add housing and retail assistance to our trust indenture. This means that PCDA can now work with and incentivize these sectors.  

What does that mean? Keep reading to find out. Click the link below.

For many years, every time staff went to a trade show or conference, the main topic of discussion was "where is the workforce?" Recruiters, companies, industries: all wanted to know where they could find their next manager, next machinist, welder, accountant, etc... This year, at the FabTech show in Orlando, Florida, it appears the topic has changed. Check out what Laurence Beliel has to say about the new conversations......

PCDA is happy to have an PoHi Intern this year. Meet Jordan Varbel. She has fit right in here in our crazy PCDA/City Central office. Jordan has jumped right in with building event calendars, creating Halloween doors and putting together Excel spreadsheets. She may or may not be a bit terrified of answering the phone, but with a little practice, we will conquer her telephone-phobia.

You don't want to miss the Fall Ladies Night tonight, Friday November 1st. Grab some of your gal pals and check out all the shops and pop-ups downtown. Even if you just need to de-stress from the week, get some of your pre-Christmas gift shopping (or at least idea gathering) in while walking around downtown. Food, drink and be merry!

It's hard to see in the graphic, but for the second consecutive quarter in 2024, Ponca City ranked in the top 10 for lowest cost of living in the United States. Oklahoma has three communities in the top ten with Oklahoma City ranking #5, Ponca City ranking #7 and Muskogee ranking #10. Cost of living numbers are based on several things including automotive, housing, food, services and entertainment. Ponca City has an 18% lower cost of living than the normal (100%). Highest cost of living numbers go to the east and west coasts.

For you data wonks out there, let staff introduce you to the many layers of information which can be found on Census.gov. If you want accurate stats from 2024, you are going to have to pay for that information. However, if you want to see what our county looks like from an employed, population and industry standing, click on the link below for the 2022 statistics from the U.S. Census County Business Patterns. Suspense killing you? Click the link below to see Kay County data.