July 2, 2021

7/2/2021

SMALL BUSINESSES....... dominated the conversations this week. Buildings and funding and workforce and pay rates; these were just the tip of the business questions lobbed to staff. Other inquiries included land, types of workforce housing, mass transit, business planning, SBA funding, grants and on and on. Throw in some new contract work and quote inquiries from the Design2Part show Ponca City industries attended a few weeks ago, and folks, we have ourselves a busy week, economically speaking.

Staff were also finishing up the fiscal year (hello July) and starting to get ready for our annual audit. Budgets are in place for 2021-2022 and it is shaping up to be an amazing year for small business, both start-ups and those businesses surviving and thriving from the pandemic. Because don't get us wrong, the pandemic has cut both ways. Businesses have closed and suffered but the last year has also galvanized people into action: working on business plans, bootstrapping their start ups and moving forward on ideas that once would not have become reality. Just this week staff has met with three new business owners and continues to work with Pitch-off participants to take their business to the next level.

What are you waiting for? Ponca City has some serious resources for you to take advantage of to build your small business: Pioneer Technology Business Services, PCDA Business Plan Pitch-off,Manufacturing assistance, Small Business Development Center and Oklahoma Procurement Technical Assistance Center (Government bid and contracting). These are all free services available here in Ponca City. What are you waiting for? Celebrate your Independence Day. But seriously, have a safe and fun Fourth of July weekend.

Small business word cloud image with hi-res rendered artwork that could be used for any graphic design.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING

Looking for new customers?

Be prepared to contract with local, state, federal and tribal governments by attending the upcoming Lunch & Learn at Pioneer Technology Center (See flyer below). Dawn Brakey, #JustAskDawn is your guide to all things government contracting. All these government entities have to have a certain amount of small business contracts. You could be that small business.

Get registered now for this informative "How to" session on Wednesday, July 28th 11 to 1 pm at Pioneer Technology Center. Call Dawn to register 580-718-4261.

MANUFACTURING

The Design2Part show was a huge success for the Ponca City companies who attended: Centerline, K&C Manufacturing, Moonlight Machine and Precision Tool & Die. Contracts were brought home but more importantly, several requests for quotes on new business are being worked by these companies. This is the definition of B2B, business to business. Congratulations to this award winning Trade Show Brigade.