October 22, 2021

Forward Together: Ponca City Development Authority

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT…is a contact sport. The pandemic showcased how important contacts with existing businesses, industries, entrepreneurs, product developers, educational partners and everyday face to face meetings are to staff here at PCDA. Business on the Balcony, Part II was a success these past six months and will reboot starting in April 2022 as part of the PCDA outreach to businesses. Until then, make sure to attend those Chamber functions like Business After Hours (BAH) next Tuesday at the Ponca City Country Club, 1 Million Cups at Pioneer Technology Center the first Wednesday of every month and all the Lunch & Learns hosted by the Chamber, Pioneer Tech and PCDA. Oh, and let Laurence and Liz into your buildings to visit with you on B2B alignment with other companies, internships and apprenticeship programs. The information is important, but the connections and contacts are critical to your businesses' success and longevity. How many connections can you make at each event? Find a PCDA staff person next week at BAH and compare contacts. Yes, we are a bit competitive, but you would not have us any other way. Go Pokes! HOLDING COURT..... at City Central is the Probate Court for Kay County. Every Thursday morning in the Link, our favorite attorneys gather and get stuff done with probate cases. They have been meeting in The Link area and using the Leverage Room for actual court. This has been a great partnership and City Central is so glad these facilities were available when they were needed. Your tax dollars at work. The Link has four available month-by-month office spaces right now. You can always sign a longer lease, but these offices were designed for plug and play space needs. Want more information on The Link? Give PCDA a call at 765.7070. Wifi, desk and chair included. HAPPY HALLOWEEN This is quality of life stuff right here. Goblins on Grand was last night. LIttles and bigs were out in force making up for missing a year of Trick or Treat in 2020. Here is just a taste with My Media Matters Alice in Wonderland booth and the Cake Walk at the Conoco Museum booth. We hope to see more pictures on Facebook, so share away! The gig economy is something economic development offices have been watching as a workforce trend. It has been building momentum for the last decade or so. In true middle America form, the trend took about this long to be fully present in our area – but it now has arrived. So many factors are playing into the scarcity of workforce, but add this one to your list. Jobs you can work on your schedule, contract based, paid per job – it’s attractive to the work life balance that many are seeking. Delivering Amazon packages, picking up grocery orders, picking up food orders, picking up people, picking up scooters, services that Ponca City is excited to have based on the use that the services are getting.  So, when you’re thinking about your hiring and workforce struggles, think about these new competitors making work easier in the marketplace. How can you be creative with your positions? Splitting that full time person into 2 part-timers, or maybe creating your own contracted gig for some of the things you need done. While you’re thinking about that – don’t forget to attend our job fair next Thursday the 28th. See you there. Tuesday, October 26 // Business After Hours // Country Club Pioneer Technology Center is hosting their Business After Hours at the Ponca City Country Club - 5 to 7 pm. Tuesday, Nov 2 // Pitch Off Business Plan Deadline // City Central Get your business plan submitted to pitch on Friday, November 12th for over $5000 in business incentives: office space, marketing, equipment and money for your company. Friday, Nov 5 // Main Street Fall Ladies Night // 5-9 pm Up and down Grand. Participating businesses will be open during the evening. Bring a friend or five! Food, drinks and fun! Wed, Nov 10 // Copyright & Trademark for Artists // City Central Art is big business. Learn how to protect your income with the Lunch & Learn presentation on copyright & trademark by Patent Attorney Chad Hinrichs. 11:30 to 12:30. Lunch is provided. Call to reserve your seat. 580.765.7070 Thurs, Nov 11 // PCDA Board of Trustee Meeting // City Central 7:30 am in the Gravity Room Friday, Nov 12 // Business Plan Pitch-off // City Central Business plans will be pitched to a group of three judges in this Shark-Tank format. Find out more by calling Kat at 580.761.3028. Nov 25-26 // Happy Thanksgiving! // City Central City Central will be closed to the public these two days. Have a fantastic Turkey Day. Rental Property - Available Listings Mark your calendar for Oct 29th for PC first annual Crawloween. Get dressed up in your favorite costumes. Gather up with your favorite guys and ghouls and do the PC Entertainment district pub crawl. @theaxeholepc, @astoriablvd_ponca, @thegrandcigarlounge and @vab2016 will be your Crawloween destinations. Visit our website ‌ ‌ ‌