July 1, 2022

7/1/2022

CELEBRATIONS.......are a great way to keep in touch with the local community. Yes, July 4th is coming up and we know there will be some great family get togethers as well as groups of friends celebrating the holiday. For all of you hosting out of town family and friends, share your stories of why you live and work in Ponca City with others. If you have been reading our little economic update for any length of time, you know workforce recruitment is a topic which comes up again and again in our current economy. Who better to be recruiters than those already living in our wonderful community? And who better to be recruited than people you already know and love? Just tour those friends and family around town, head out to one of the lakes, go golfing or walk down Main Street to enjoy that small town charm. Staff is sure you are the right person for the recruiting job, oh current Ponca Citian. Go get them!

And of course, have a fun, wonderful and safe Fourth of July celebration.

ATTENTION CAMPERS ..... Girl Power STEM camp is this month. This is the seventh year for this award winning program and staff is excited to host two groups through the camp. Campers will participate in science, technology, engineering and manufacturing projects which utilize welding, chemistry, carpentry, robotics and oh so many more brain cells. It is science after all! Campers will be touring local manufacturers and getting to see how things are made right her in Ponca City. Eating local food and we hope, planning for high school and beyond. City Central will be hopping that week!

CONGRATULATIONS!... to Garaga this week for completing their agreement with PCDA to add jobs, increase pay for their employees and make significant improvements in the plant at Hartford and Ash Street as part of this four year incentive package. Garaga Door purchased Mid America Door in 2018. With plants in Ontario and Quebec, of course Garaga needed a center of the universe location like Ponca City. For the documented millions Garaga spent on their Ponca City location, the job growth and ramp up in pay levels, these dollar incentives are just that, incentives. The real investment is Garaga's. Congratulations on a job well done here in Ponca City. PCDA Trustee Garrett Bowers, Garaga CFO Carl Christenson, Melissa and Sophia from Garaga and Mayor Nicholson pictured.

NETWORKING..... can be hard. Especially coming out of COVID. PCDA staff has the solution: Business on the Balcony is happening Tuesday, July 12th. This isn't your normal networking event. First, it's early: 7 to 8:30 am. Second: It's on the Balcony at City Central. Yup, staff found a way to use this wonderful venue every month during the warm times. And that early, hey, even Oklahoma summers are bearable. So come get some breakfast and meet some new-to-you people. Bring a friend or co-worker and see what is happening at B on the B. We promise: it's worth getting up early.

See you on the balcony. Tuesday, July 12 between 7 to 8:30 am.