July 28, 2023

7/28/2023

Friday | July 28, 2023

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Next Wednesday, August 2^nd, the Oklahoma Academy will host a “listening session” on housing, specifically in Kay County and Ponca City. The Oklahoma Academy is a once-a-year forum for state leaders held in the fall to tackle an issue of significant importance to the state. This year, that’s housing. Prior to that aforementioned fall forum, the Academy goes to various places that are experiencing said issue (housing) and listen to the folks that are living the challenge. That housing challenge could be lack of available workforce, not the housing options one wishes for one’s children, age of the homes, condition of homes, other housing issues…you get the idea.

Next Wednesday’s listening session is being done in partnership with the City of Ponca City to provide an opportunity for Ponca City to talk about this issue is impacting us, so please be us and come participate. There will be a light lunch served and there is no cost. You must RSVP, however, and you can do so by emailing citymanager@poncacityok.gov. Once you do that, you are good to go and you can bring your thoughts, ideas, comments, etc. to the Commission Chambers in City Hall, next Wednesday, August 2^nd from Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Ribbon Cutting for New Emergency Resource Center

You won't want to miss the ribbon cutting ceremony and Open House for the new Ponca City Emergency Resource Center/Police Station on Monday from 2 to 5 pm. As PCDA's neighbors to the south, staff have watched from the beginning as all the pieces have come together. Our emergency services and police officers deserve this state of the art and spacious building to protect and serve.

Make sure you make time to attend the ribbon cutting and tour the new facility. It is very cool. See you Monday, July 31st between two and five.

You Go, Girl!

This week was the season for PCDA’s “Girl Power!” summer camp. We could tell you all about how it has received international recognition, was the first of it’s kind, has been around for years and a bunch of other (true) propaganda. All good stuff but the bottom line is that “Girl Power!” is all about workforce in and for Ponca City. The fact that its been around a while now can be seen in two quick fun facts.

The first is that some past “Girl Power!” campers have now graduated high school and are working in Ponca City companies. The second is that other “Girl Power!” alumni are now helping to teach at “Girl Power!” The camp started back in the day when PCDA noticed that there were very few jobs available in positions more traditionally occupied by females. At the same time, there were a bunch of openings for jobs more traditionally held by men. The goal was to introduce middle school young ladies to the idea that these traditionally male dominated career paths were actually open to them too. So “Girl Power!” continues to introduce young ladies to a lot of careers that need filling in Ponca City. Mind you this isn’t about putting these middle schoolers to work right now in jobs, that would be a no-no. It is about getting them to consider these career paths in Ponca City for their future. Long story short, it’s working and, this week, we were back at it.

Ponca City Celebrates Crazy Days

Crazy Days are happening all over Ponca City this weekend, but especially downtown. Make sure to stop by the Lemonade Stands set up all over Grand and check out all the enterprising young entrepreneurs. This started a few years back and has become a staple of Crazy Days. Sample lemonade, check out Friday evening entertainment and some downtown shopping.

And make sure to come back downtown next Friday for DXDT and First Fridays entertainment. For more information on all the Crazy Days activities, click here for Ponca City Main Street.

New Teacher Luncheon

The annual New Teacher Luncheon will be held on Thursday, August 17th from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Ponca City Country Club. Cost is $50 and covers your meal and a new teacher's meal.

If you want to sponsor more that one new teacher, sponsor a principal or sponsor a school board member, it is an additional $30 per person. Please RSVP to the Chamber of Commerce soon as they have to get a head count for lunches. This is a great opportunity to support our educators as well as introduce yourself and your company to these new teachers. Some of them are new to the community and it's always nice to meet a friendly face.