May 19, 2023

5/19/2023

FIBER IS GOOD FOR YOU…whether it is the fiber in your diet or the fiber to your home. The pandemic taught us many things, but one of the biggest civic messages was that a successful community in the future will, at a minimum, need great education, strong health care and robust, modern connectivity. It’s not just remote workers, or gamers, or Netflix bingers, it is about being a part of the real world in real time. Connectivity means that you can be a part of everything that is evolving in the digital world. In case you didn’t notice, the digital world continues to expand and drive a lot of economic growth, including the growth of brick and mortar companies and businesses. If a community does not have good, strong, fast connectivity, people and businesses will pack up and go to where that connectivity is.

It is also worth noting that the growing number of people who need to be connected at their homes (and this is part of, but more than, the whole remote workers thing) is a fast-growing part of the economy. It is here in Ponca City and we certainly want it to stay and grow in Ponca City. The good news is now it can. This week, the city announced that the fiber to the home project was now available in every neighborhood. This is big economic news. With “Google City” like speeds and reliability, someone living in Ponca City enjoys connections that are fast (truthfully in many if not most cases faster) than the speeds available in major cities. This week’s announcement by the city may not play or feel like a major economic announcement but make no mistake, it is just that.

Close-up of a touchscreen with BROADBAND inscription_ new technology concept

CONGRATULATIONS....to Cookshack this week for celebrating 275 days with no lost time accidents. In the manufacturing world, this is a big deal. And in the Cookshack world, that means food and lots of it for all their people.

DUKE....is 90% finished on the inside. If it stops raining (staff is okay with rain falling as we need it) the parking lot will receive its allotment of concrete to catch up the outside to the inside. Staff anticipates the building will be completed in late summer. Tours are being scheduled, after the PCDA Board of Trustees have had a chance to kick the tires so to speak. This 39,000 square foot building called Duke will be ready for a tenant by Fall 2023.

THE TRADE SHOW BRIGADE....return on investment or ROI is always a great thing for staff. This week, staff received an email with this picture attached saying "Good Morning. This is the picture of the parts we made for a company we met at the Design 2 Part Trade show in Dallas. They really appreciated our detail and now want us to be a "Critical Supplier" for them."

For those not in the know, a critical supplier is a supplier delivering materials, components, or services that may influence the safety and performance of the device. This is a big deal for K&C Manufacturing. Staff loves these stories! We are proud to be able to assist our companies with these types of connections and contracts.

CREATING A ......business plan is one of those things very few business owners WANT to do. However, once the business plan is being worked, it becomes a living, breathing document which will assist your business grow, become successful and then, when someone offers to buy you out, will guide the valuation of the business. Yes, it does all of these things and more.

If you need some help with your business plan, do not hesitate to call Kat at PCDA. From customer identification, product development or determining the value of your existing business, assistance is available. Did we mention it's free? Call the PCDA office at 580.765.7070 or email KLong@goponca.com now.

Business Plan with Creative Businessman showing Positive Growth

ACTIVE LIVING.....and transportation were the topics for a regional conference held on May 4th at City Central for cities and organizations interested in ease of movement in their communities. With 27 parks, several water features, walking trails and curbed sidewalks, several participants were from Ponca City. Hosted by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), the day was spent planning the creation of safe, active, equitable and healthy communities whether urban, suburban, or rural. This workshop included topics such as Active Transportation Planning, Policies, and Programs. City Central is proud to be at the hub of these types of activities and workshops which promote Ponca City.

RESILIENCE......is the name of the new exhibition on display in the John McNeese Gallery right here at City Central. The official opening was last week with an exhibit curated by Kayla Maxwell. This collaboration of City Arts and Ponca Tribal Victim Services is to bring awareness to the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Peoples epidemic taking place currently in our country.

The Exhibition Hours are Thursday & Fridays 12-6 pm and Saturdays 12-4 pm

May 11 - June 10th