November 18, 2022

11/18/2022

Hand drawn Happy Thanksgiving typography poster. Celebration text with harvest food and leaves for banner_ postcard_ icon or badge. Vintage style calligraphy lettering

BIG NUMBER, BIG IMPLICATIONS…In case you were looking the other way, on Tuesday the population of the world hit 8 billion people, as estimated by the UN. Sounds like a lot. This is also the high point in human history for the number of children on the planet. Holy crowded planet Batman, you may be thinking. So you’ll wonder why PCDA says the population boom is over. Well that’s because it is. The growth in the population, which will continue at a slower rate through 2050 and then start to decline, is largely because we’re living longer. In a lot of countries, however, the U.S. being one, we are no longer replacing ourselves. That’s happening in Africa and India but not in Europe, parts of Asia and North America. The workforce shortage is a part of that along with the lower workforce participation rate. There are a lot of implications.

One of which is how to retain the workforce population already in Ponca. Another is attracting new families to the area. Retaining workforce could mean encouraging more start-ups, new businesses and more support of existing small businesses. Staff believes PCDA is an integral part of the retention and attraction efforts.

THERE'S ICE.....in Ponca City. Skating rink ice and the ice is synthetic, but heck, you can skate on it! Tonight Ponca City's first ice skating rink Ice on the Plaza has their opening night alongside the lighting of the City's Christmas tree. An event almost a year in the making, Ice on the Plaza will run from November 19 until December 31. Make sure to follow the Ice on the Plaza Facebook page Ice on the Plaza for hours of operations and additional fun like real penguins from Tanganyika Wildlife Park sponsored by MakeKings, Santa Clause and the Reindeer Club visit. See you on the ice!

FALL PITCH-OFF..... competition happened this week with four businesses competing for over $5000 in incentives to grow their businesses. Drumroll please. The high scoring business was a tie. Luckily, the business plan is the tie-breaker for this type of situation. AND the business planning high score was Andy Hicks, owner of Sizzle Sauce Media. His use of existing technology in a more efficient and customer centric way won over the judges. Thanks to all the pitch-ers and especially our wonderful judges (not pictured Jerod Helling). Another Pitch-Off is happening in April 2023, so give Kat a call to get your business plan pitch ready.

Judges and Pitch-ers for the 2022 Fall Business Plan Pitch-off held Monday, November 14th here at City Central.

WORK YOUR PITCH.....today is a web-based, Zoom-in tutorial on getting your elevator pitch right and tight. Elevator pitch? Let us explain. Imagine yourself in an elevator for about 30 seconds and you realize the person you are standing next to in this elevator is a prospective customer. How are you going to create interest for your business or products in just 30 seconds? The goal is to open a conversational door which leads to a possible sale. You have to kiss a lot of frogs, etc..... to get one prince (in this case customer). Join us via zoom to elevator your 30 second pitch

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.....is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Amercan Express started this official day back in 2010 and Main Street Stores all over the U.S. have adopted this slogan. If you haven't strolled through Downtown Ponca City lately, mark this day on your calendar. Baby and matching PJ sets? Check out Farmhouse Kids. Need some stocking stuffers? Cast Iron is your destination. Want some original art or even make it yourself? Doodle Academy and Completely Quilted are calling your name.

These small businesses are the heart of our community: your neighbors and friends. Support them this holiday season. Just like PCDA supports our industries such as contract manufacturing, food and agriculture, back office and some oil and gas thrown in the mix. Shop Small, shop local. And there's always the Santa Bucks!