August 12, 2022

8/5/2022

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.