May 20, 2022

5/20/2022

GRADUATION WEEK....is here. Tonight, caps and gowns will be on and students will walk through Sullins Stadium for the last time as high schoolers. Tears, laughter, memories and all the happiness to this group of graduates. This is our next workforce; the next nurses, welders, engineers, plumbers and the list goes on and on. Congratulations to the grads; congrats to the parents. They grow up so fast!

As PCDA staff wrap up Economic Development Week, Small Business Month and get ready for summer activities (think Girl Power Camp, Business Plan Pitch-Off and construction projects), workforce is still at the top of list for Ponca City employers. Don't know where to find the jobs? Give Ponca Works a call. Looking for small business planning or questions, PCDA has you covered. Check out staff info below and maybe a video or two of some of our local businesses as we get ready to cheer on the new grads.

Ponca Works

Liz Leaming, CEcD

Liz works with business and industry to find, recruit, and train quality workforce for the specific needs of primary employers in our community. More times than not, workforce is the number one need of employers, which is why PCDA decided to grow our own workforce locally. While meeting employers’ needs is our main focus, staff works to inspire the students and job seekers as well. Resume updating, interview skills, school programs and much more. Find out more about Ponca Works here.

A COOL TOOL..... Ponca Works uses during Girl Power Camp and when recruiting workforce at college Career Fairs, is an augmented reality app which was developed for PCDA by Trifecta Communications. Introduced to the Girl Power Camp back in 2020, this tool has been a great way to showcase local industries without having to visit the actual locations (very handy during COVID!).

Check out this cool video showing what participants see when using the augmented reality tour iPads.

ARE YOU READY? to start or grow your business right here in Ponca CIty? Do you know someone looking to start a business in our community? Ponca City has the resources to assist existing or start-up businesses. Check out the Entrepreneur Road Map here for all the small business resources. The Pitch-off happens twice a year. June 1st is fast approaching. Set your sights on the November, 2022 date. Check out the Pitch-off video to hear from actual Pitch-off participants on starting a business in Ponca City.

TO BUILD..... a new building takes a lot of planning, money and a reason to build. Ponca CIty is currently experiencing a building shortage; An excellent reason to start the process of Speculation Building Duke. Mindset Media right here in Ponca City created a virtual tour of the building to help PCDA market to potential customers even before the first shovel goes in the ground. Check it out!