July 22, 2022

7/22/2022

TOO HOT......MUST STAY COOL...... there is your t-shirt, hat and bumper sticker slogan for the next couple of weeks. Staff cannot ignore the topic which has been uttered in passing at every meeting, every phone conversation and pleasantry: "How about this heat?" PCDA has been cooking (get it?) right along this week with a Trustee Board Meeting, City Central Projects, delivering City Small Business Grants, dirt moving in the AIP (keep reading) and Girl Power Camp. Whew! We have definitely broken a sweat.

Other projects staff have been assisting with are theIce on the Plaza, a Hispanic Heritage Festival, Ponca City Arts Festival, motorcycle rallies at City Central in September and October, cost of living surveys and the Business Plan Pitch-off coming up this fall.

MOVING DIRT...... in the heat is hard work. These guys (and their equipment) make it look easy. After the equipment gets delivered, the dirt work gets started. This is the Cookshack expansion project. Cookshack leases PCDA building "BOB" and is busting at the seams. This expansion project will give them room to expand inventory, hire more employees and grow their company right here in Ponca City.

PRESENTING GRANTS...... to small businesses in Ponca City has definitely been the highlight of staff's week. 32 small businesses were awarded grants in the amounts of $2500 to $10000 from the City of Ponca City to assist with COVID related expenses. Staff did not get to hand out all the checks, but let's just say several businesses were very happy. These little deliveries continue through the month of July as the small businesses and 20 Ponca City non-profit organizations receive funds. Thank you to the City of Ponca City for all their hard work requesting, allocating and dispersing this federal ARPA funding. PCDA staff assisted with grant applications, grant reviews and continuous contact with the applicants. Teamwork makes the dream work!

DAVIDS GARAGE - "This grant will assist with employee payroll and supplies that were put on the back burner this last year"

- Owner David George

AT THE CITY OFFICES- when the grant checks were ready, staff was there to assist with the distribution. "I would love more boutiques downtown. This grant will assist with inventory and supplies that were hard to come by this last year."

- Owner Trina Liles-Sims

PC PROVISIONS - "Restaurants have had a tough two years. This grant will help our cafe so much".

-Owner Tracy Emmons

GIRL POWER CAMP......was this week at City Central and it was all hands on deck. 25 soon-to-be eighth grade girls experienced hands-on welding, carpentry, chemical reactions and design while visiting local industry to see what is made right here in Ponca City. Guest speakers gave the campers some insight on jobs that may not be traditionally female, but hey, if you want to do it, here is how. Thank you to P66, CME, Cookshack, Continental carbon, Creative Cabinets, Lindsay Manufacturing, Century Products and MakeKings for hosting our campers on tours of their facilities. This is our next workforce and PCDA is so excited for the future.