February 16, 2024

2/16/2024

Friday | February 16, 2024

Money for Your Business

If your company is expanding, thinking about capital projects or adding more capacity, you need to attend the meeting on Tuesday, March 5th hosted by PCDA at Pioneer Technology Center. Jeremy Stoner from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce will be presenting information on the Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program (OIEP).

Last year eight local companies including Centerline Inc., CSE Bliss, Custom Mechanical Equipment, Head Country, Heather Cannon Honda, K&C Manufacturing Inc., M J & H Fabrication, and Rick Scott Construction were awarded a combined amount of $450k from the (OIEP). This program's application period begins on April 1 and ends on April 12, 2024. This event will be held at Pioneer Technology Center on Tuesday, March 5th in room B131, and attendees will go through the cafeteria line for lunch. PCDA is sponsoring the lunch.

RSVP to [email protected] if you would like to find out more about this program. Application is easy, but there are stipulations including number of employees (you need some) and of course, the deadlines.

Work Ready Oklahoma

City Central is proud to welcome Work Ready Oklahoma (WRO), in Suite #307 to the City Centrla building. WRO is open for business, with an official Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on March 14th at 10 am. WRO delivers integrated services to help Oklahomans rapidly regain employment, mitigate their risk of future job loss and advance along career pathways.

All of that to say, this office has the best people to assist Ponca Citians find, and keep, employment in quality jobs. Training; temporary remote office space and more. Give them a call at 580.718.4237 or just stop by their office and see what they are all about. Fae, Cena and Dondi are ready to assist you.

Support Local Business

PCDA is all about the local: Local businesses, local buying, using local trades, local industry, local manufacturing. You get the idea. Since PCDA acquired the City Central building seven years ago, staff may be a little hyper on the topic of local business support. PCDA always has industry and manufacturing in our thoughts: how to make it better, promote industry, attract and retain workforce and support growth and diversification in manufacturing. City Central has allowed staff to grow this public building into a downtown hub, partnering with PC Arts on the McNeese Gallery and supporting local retail with pop-up store space in the lobby area.

All of this to say: buy local. Support local businesses and vendors. Yes, it may cost you a little more. However, you are supporting your neighbor, your kid's soccer coach, your friends and your community. Dollars spent in the community where you live equals more money for the community you live in. And good job getting out and voting this week. Another very important way to support the local community.

Congratulations

Sunny Creek Trading Post, a local new business has entered the Pioneer Tech Business Incubator. Spearheaded by entrepreneur Elizabeth Threlkeld, Sunny Creek Trading Post brought Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) produce and value-added boxes to the Ponca City area in the summer and fall of 2023.

Now in the second year of Sunny Creek, Elizabeth and Courtney (pictured here) are hosting pop-up shops at City Central and working with local producers to bring together the best food and supplies Kay County agriculture can grow and manufacture. Just ask them. Congratulations on being accepted in the Pioneer Tech Incubator and for passing their health inspection with flying colors. Onward! Find them on Facebook at Sunny Creek Trading Post.

Sunny Creek Trading Post Valentine's Day Pop-up shop at City Central. Pop-ups give start-up retail and service businesses a "hands-on, real-time" customer sales experience to assess needs for a brick-and-mortar location. Great customer service training opportunity. For more information on having a pop-up shop at City Central, call or email Kat Long at PCDA.