September 3, 2021

9/3/2021

COST OF LIVING..... is something we pay attention to in the economic development world, because you, dear consumer, pay attention to food, home, fuel, healthcare and miscellaneous living costs every day. Luckily, Ponca City pencils out 10 to 12 percent lower cost of living than places like Pittsburg, Pennsylvania or Austin, Texas. And with our current cost of living index hitting right at 86.1 percent of the national average, a steak in Ponca City is three dollars cheaper than Louisville, Kentucky or Juneau, Alaska. How do we know these exact prices?

Every quarter of the calendar year (except for parts of 2020 during COVID shutdown) staffers go out into the grocery aisles, stores and restaurants and collect pricing on 26 different items and smile and dial for the other 40 or so item prices. Our counterparts in other states and cities do the same thing, at the same time. All of us then sit down at the computer and input ALL these numbers. About six months later, numbers are tabulated. collated and put into wonderful spreadsheets for viewing by The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness. The scoring process is based on 100%. For instance, Ponca City is 86.1 percent of the 100 percent while Plano, TX is 111 percent and Seattle, WA is 150 percent. These cost of living items include food, fuel, housing prices, healthcare and things like pet care and clothing costs. This is one of the reasons Ponca City made the top 10 ranking of Kiplinger's Least Expensive Places to Live. So if you see staff with a clipboard at the grocery store, now you know the rest of the story.

RIBBON CUTTINGS.....have been happening right and left in Ponca City and that is a very good thing! Our active Ponca City Chamber has several more ribbon cuttings on the upcoming calendar, which you can find here. Attending is a great way to show your local businesses all the love and check out new businesses in our area. PCDA staff were at the Junction West Cabins & RV Park ribbon cutting this week and are looking forward to The Splash Co Survival Swim ribbon cutting next Friday at the Recplex, 10 am. (Splash Co is the Summer 2021 PCDA Pitch-off Winner).

Junction West Cabins & RV Park is located at 3150 W. North Ave, right across from Snyders Chicken & Catering. Hookups for RVs and cute one and two bed cabin rentals. Nikki (the Park Manager) is pictured with the office and a very fun, if very hot, small business pop-up in the background. Find out all the information at theirwebsite JunctionWestponca.com.

IN MEMORY

SPEAKING OF PITCH-OFF.........The PCDA Small Business Pitch-off owes a lot to this woman, Bonnie Cook. She passed away last week, but her contributions to small business here in Ponca City are many: Pioneer Technology Business Incubator Manager, Ponca City Kennel Club Dog Training and the Pitch-off Business Plan Competition. The Pitch-off was developed from her idea for a Ponca City business "Shark Tank" pitch competition. Small businesses were so important to her and we are glad that PCDA still has a little of Bonnie with us each year during Pitch-off season. Rest Well Bonnie!

INTERNSHIPS

Have a project that needs an extra pair of hands and some skills? How about an intern. Attend this Lunch and Learn at the Chamber on September 8th and ask all the questions about having an intern at your location. Pay or no pay. Insurance needs. How many hours? What time frame is the best for an intern? Ask all the questions of Liz Leaming. Call the Chamber to sign up 580.765.4400. Lunch is included.

Business Owners Can Get Their Share of 500 Billion

Pioneer Tech is hosting a free workshop that will help businesses gain a better understanding of how to sell to government agencies. The lunch and learn, Get Your Share of Over $500 Billion, will be held from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Wednesday, September 15th. To register for this event or for more information about the Bid Assistance Program at Pioneer Tech, contact Dawn Brakey by phone or email dawnb@pioneertech.edu.

With over 300 offices, PTAC’s form a nationwide network of more than 600 dedicated professionals who work to help local businesses successfully sell their products and services to government agencies. Dawn Brakey, local PTAC counselor, has served over 300 clients in 2020 and helped them win an estimated 73 million in government contracts and subcontracts. “My goal is to help companies find new opportunities and grow their business,” says Dawn Brakey. “By helping businesses, Pioneer Tech can stimulate the creation of new jobs and economic growth in our communities.”

Get signed up now by calling 580.718.4312 or email dawnb@pioneertech.edu.