October 27, 2023

10/30/2023

Friday | October 27, 2023

A Manufacturing Hub

October sixth was "Thank a Manufacturer Day" (otherwise known as Manufacturing Day). Here in Ponca City, PCDA staff assists industry and especially our manufacturers, to start, run and grow. It's kind of our thing. This week, it has really been our thing. From another successful Trade Show Brigade at the ICBS Government Contracting Show in OKC all the way back to welcoming new planes to the NextGen hangar at the Ponca City airport, staff loves a good manufacturing story.

And our partners at the Chamber of Commerce keep us in the loop with retail and service growth (ribbon cuttings are serious business) and Pioneer Technology Center keeps the training programs for current and next workforce needs available year round. Staff gave you all the info about the PoHi internship program last week.

Manufacturing businesses are the backbone of the Ponca City community and staff wants everyone to know we have noticed. Ponca City is ranked fourth in the state for percentage of workforce to population actively employed in some type of manufacturing. And there is a lot of manufacturing in our state; illustrated by the fact that Oklahoma ranks #11 in the nation as a best state for manufacturing according to the Site Selection Group. You know, those people that talk to companies when they are seeking a new location or expansion. Sometimes, they know things.

So thank your friends who work at Dorada Foods, Cookshack or Head Country (food and ag manufacturing) or maybe your welder friend at Mertz or MJ&H. You might know someone employed at Century Products or K&C Manufacturing (contract manufacturing); Maybe your kid goes to school with someone whose parents work at QuarterTurn or Phillips66. And that's just the tip of the manufacturing iceberg here in Ponca City. Check out all the manufacturers here on goponca.com.

ln the Airport Industrial Park

David Manley, H&H Project Superintendent, looks on as the first load ever is delivered to spec building Duke. Being unloaded from the truck was the cabinetry for the project.

A change made to the parking lot elevation allowed for a near perfect alignment between the truck bed and shop floor height. It’s the little things like perfect height to truck alignment, that makes Project Superintendent’s like David actually smile. They are so serious most of the time, but if we had to deal with height to depth ratios in concrete work, staff would be frowning all the time.

Collaboration, Co-work & Canva

This just in: IPG Mobile Lab will be at Pioneer Technology Center Flex Lab next Tuesday, October 31st at 9 am. If you or your company is interested in the latest in laser welding, make time to check out their equipment demo. Need more information? Give Johnny T. or Laurence Beliel a call. Staff is sure both of them can fill in ALL the information.

Trade Show Brigade: The Sequel

You have heard staff tell of the truly famous, award winning Trade Show Brigade. This week, the second Trade Show Brigade was launched at the ICBS Government Contracting Show in Oklahoma City. Three Ponca City companies, along with APEX Accelerator guru Dawn Brakey took meetings, impressed Tribal governments and did some awesome B2B networking during the three day show. PCDA Staff manned the booth so these companies could truly work the show and attend meetings.

Redlands Business Solutions, My Media Matters and Bowers Trucking & Logistics will sort through contacts, business cards and emails for the next few months. If your company is interested in government contracting, #Just Ask Dawn at dawnb@pioneertech.edu. She knows All The Things about this process.

You Never Know Who You Might See

In the airplane coming in for some TLC at the NextGen Hangar. Pioneer Tech Superintendent Traci Thorpe thought this was a pretty cool place to hang out. And staff has to agree. This King Air 350 is in from Kenya for repairs. Yes, you read that right: Kenya. The PC Airport is international folks. Be on the lookout for more planes landing for maintenance, repair and overhaul.

And make sure to attend the November 4th Veterans Day Parade. Staff is pretty sure the Airport will be abuzz with vintage and one of a kind planes for the Fly-in Breakfast.