October 15, 2021

10/15/2021

SCHOOL BOND AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT…Tuesday’s resounding approval of an almost $50 million bond issue for local schools is good news for Ponca City’s economic development efforts. Good schools attract families. Families produce workforce. Workforce attracts employers. Following the merger of Conoco and Phillips back in the day, there was some concern about the ability of the local economy to restructure. In 2003, economist Mark Snead said “There is nothing about the Ponca City economy that 3,000 new residents wouldn’t fix.”

Since that time, the economy has not only survived, it has grown strongly in almost every metric but one: population. With housing developers currently looking at Ponca City (and, yes, they are) having these new educational tools and facilities may help push some of these developers off the fence. Perhaps more importantly, it will be truly good for the children coming up through the local schools. All in all, investing in yourself is the best way to convince others to invest in you.

Thank you Ponca City!

YOU STILL HAVE TIME!!! The Fall Pitch off is just around the corner for those with a great business idea or an existing business ready to get to the next level. Maybe you are an inventor or product developer ready to launch the next big thing. We want YOU to write that business plan and pitch your idea to our group of judges on Friday, November 12. Business Plans need to be submitted by Monday, November 1st to be considered for this Pitch-off. Not ready? There will be another PItch-off in June of 2022.

Call Kat at 580.761.3028 or Ben Evans at 580.718.4262 to get started on your business plan writing. You will have access to a great online resource called LIvePlan to help you write and refine your plan. What are you waiting for? Your future is just a PITCH away!

CONSTRUCTION

It's been a little windy this fall, so the first the-wind-won't-knock-you-off-the-roof day, PCDA staff (thank you Laurence) ventured onto the roof for an updated pic of the Emergency Resource Center. If you haven't been by to check it out, grab a Jim's Jumbo burger and have a gander. This is going to be such an improvement both in usability for our emergency and police providers and in the aesthetics of downtown buildings. Columns and windows echoing the other downtown architecture is a thing of beauty and function.

OCTOBER 28th JOB FAIR

Searching for a few good employees? Sign up now for the Ponca Works job fair at GoPonca.com/Work and mark your calendar for October 28th at City Central. Need to adapt some job descriptions? Want to know what competitive pay is for your positions? Now is the time to call Liz at 580.765.7070 or email lleaming@goponca.com to get all your ducks in a row to hire the right person for your open positions.