September 8, 2023

9/8/2023

Friday | September 8, 2023

The Next Big Thing

Businesses and investors, heck even employees, are always looking for "the next big thing." This isn't a "grass is always greener" kind of scenario. More like how clunky processing computers became laptops became your mobile phone. Think of that guy's portfolio, if he/she invested in that next thing. And economic development is like that as well. Staff is always looking for the next program; the next product for our current industries; the next complimentary company to recruit to Ponca City. Because the next thing could be the big thing. But the next big thing may already be in our community and just needs a little push (shove).

Like the Trade Show Brigade of local companies that head to Design 2 Part each year with PCDA Business Retention Guru Laurence Beliel leading the charge. This program is made up of three to five companies collaborating under the Ponca City banner and owning this contract manufacturing show. Staff talks about it often. Companies talk about it. You could consider this award winning program a claim to fame for PCDA and Ponca City. After all, we are the fifth largest manufacturing hub in Oklahoma. And we here at PCDA take that seriously.

Many of our other award winning programs revolve around industry including Girl Power! STEM Camp, The Shared Equipment program with our partners at Pioneer Technology Center. And then their is City Central, which has office space to assist with temporary offices for those companies in our community looking to fill their gap while buying/rehabbing/building a building or moving to the community.

Think about this: Ponca City IS the next big thing. How can our community come together to support all the small things and keep moving towards that Next Big Thing? As you can imagine, we have some ideas. Stay tuned.

Barriers to Work

workforce - various profession workers with work tools in hands

The workforce participation rate from a national level is leveling out, and even increasing from pre-pandemic numbers. Women are participating on a national scale slightly more than before the pandemic. Locally, Ponca City and the Midwest in general, takes longer to catch up, but there is and will continue to be a roadblock to the working mother's participation. Childcare.

Availability of care is a huge issue; and might be that next big thing. Finding childcare for a child less than one year old in the Kay County region is slim pickings, and even when you do there will be a significant waiting list. For older children, it is the same - long wait lists and unknown situations. Another huge issue is the cost of childcare. The federal government has been backfilling funding for the last several years, but this will end within the next several months. Creating a safe environment that meets the State standards costs significantly more than the market can afford. DHS subsidy is offered only to those who make very little and isn't an option when you're working many of the blue-collar jobs that make up the Ponca City's manufacturing industry demographics. Don't get us wrong: higher wages are always encouraged from PCDA. However, it becomes a barrier when both spouses work and must also afford childcare. While many minds are working on these issues locally, we will leave you with this link to a Facebook group that offers openings to make day care options when you're in the market: North Central OK Licensed Childcare Openings.

1 Million Cups Gets A Makeover

1 Million Cups was packed at its new location within the newly rehabbed Pioneer Technology Center. The cafeteria area with its comfortable and relaxed seating area, served as a great location for this back from summer 1MC presentation from Jessica Fields of SWG (Stolhand Wells Group). She gave the business story of Stolhand to Stolhand Wells to SWG and updated the group on the ETA of the renovation of the bowling alley on Lake Road. This renovated space will bring all the SWG moving parts of plumbing, HVAC, electric and bottled water into one location.

This is a great small business story, and congratulations to this local company with 117 full time employees. But don't take our word on it. The full presentation can be seen on Facebook. Just click here. Next 1MC is Wednesday, October 4th with Trailer Butler presenting their business story.

Positive Press - Ponca City and Oklahoma

The second quarter Cost of Living numbers have been released and Ponca City is still in the top 10 in the United States for lowest cost of living. And it isn't some unbelievable low number at 82.7% of the national average of 100; But compared to the absurdly high cost of living in San Jose, CA of 174.9 percent, we are doing pretty well here in Ponca City.

Oklahoma ranks #3 in Wind Power and #7 in Film & Television Production on the 2023 Business Facilities' State Rankings Report . The rankings help site selection professionals evaluate locations for their corporate expansion and relocation projects. Texas was #1 in Wind Power and Georgia was #1 in Film & Television.