- by Jordan Jackson-Gross
Pictured below: Senior Jackson Hunt, who interns at US Army Corps of Engineers Kaw Lake office, volunteered to help park rangers over the busy Labor Day weekend.

As the new school year has started, over 125 new Wildcat Interns have begun work-based learning experiences at businesses all over Ponca City! This year, we are excited to build new partnerships with businesses in high interest career areas, including the medical field (especially physical therapy and occupational therapy), construction trades, engineering, law, and graphic design. Be on the lookout for young people in your favorite businesses and organizations around Ponca City wearing Wildcat Intern badges, and be sure to say hello. If you have time to chat with them about what they’re learning on the job, you’ll be blown away by the incredible experiences they are having.

Each semester, qualifying juniors and seniors at PoHi apply to participate in the internship program, which allows them to leave during the school day for up to two hours to gain professional experience at a job site. Using results from career assessments, students explore different career pathways and request internship placements at local businesses and organizations where they can gain work experience and connect to mentors in the professions they are interested in. These experiences and relationships provide invaluable real-world opportunities that help our young adults make the best choices possible about their futures as they face the transition from the school system to the world of work.

This program has experienced incredible growth over the past several years, and that is thanks to our businesses who say yes to the call and invest as participating stakeholders in our students’ career learning opportunities. With over 100 partnering businesses in Ponca City, chances are, you and your organization have probably gotten a request to host an intern. If so, we at Ponca City Public Schools would like to say thank you! This program is one of many that reminds us that our community is full of champions for children. I look forward to sharing more of the amazing work based learning experiences our students are getting to participate in over the weeks to come.

If your business is interested in learning more about hosting a Wildcat Intern in the future, please reach out to Jordan Jackson-Gross at [email protected] or 580-718-4878 and we’ll help you understand the program and work to connect the right students with you.

Ponca City is know for the companies we keep. Over the years, industries and businesses have started, grown and thrived right here. One of those industries is food and agriculture. Think Lopez Dorada Foods, Log10, Cookshack, CPM Bliss and of course, Century Products. All of these companies reflect the Ponca City success story: start small and grow, grow, grow.

Sometimes. that growth is reflected in jobs; sometimes, in production.  For example, when Dorada Foods opened in the old Tyson building in 2011, their job counts were projected to grow from 200 to 400 employees.  Today, Lopez Dorada has over 800 employees and could handle a few more hires if there was available workforce. 

More recently, Century Products relocated from a smaller community.  Century needed a larger building and more land.  FIrst, the D&M building was purchased giving the company some breathing space.  But soon, Century's five employees had doubled and the 70,000+ square foot building wasn't too big; it wasn't big enough.  Century acquired the old Smith Building last year and are now over 30 employees and continue to grow to fit their capacity.  The Century Products new building is over 200,000 square feet.  That is alot of growing room. 

Read more about Century Products Colorful Colaboration here. 

No matter the growth trajectory, Ponca City has a little something for every business.  Just take a tour through the Duke building in the Airport Industrial Park.  Laurence is ready.  Just give the office a call at 580.765.7070 for more information about growing your business in Ponca City. 

​Aan exciting wave of change is sweeping through the local workforce landscape, and it’s all thanks to the Wildcat Internship Program. This collaborative effort between the Ponca City Development Authority (PCDA) and Ponca City Public Schools (PCPS) is redefining how students prepare for their futures, while simultaneously giving businesses an opportunity to cultivate their future employees.

The Wildcat Internship Program has become an essential tool in workforce development, and its impact is nothing short of extraordinary. Over the past 18 months, the program has seen a staggering growth of over 200%, a testament to its success and the interest from both students and local businesses. As of now, 98 students have signed up, with new participants joining each day. This surge in involvement highlights a community eager to invest in its young talent and prepare them for the workforce.

So, what makes the Wildcat Internship Program such a game-changer? At its core, the program is designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. By placing students in actual workplace environments, it provides them with invaluable hands-on experience that goes beyond textbook knowledge. This practical exposure helps students understand the nuances of various professions, making them more informed and prepared for their future careers.

But the benefits don’t stop at the students. For local businesses, the program offers a unique opportunity to engage with potential future employees. By participating, businesses can showcase their operations, mentor young talent, and potentially identify the next generation of skilled workers. This early engagement not only helps in nurturing future talent but also strengthens the local economy by ensuring a well-prepared workforce.

The growth of the Wildcat Internship Program reflects a community-wide commitment to development and opportunity. Businesses that have participated in the past have seen firsthand how the program can positively impact their operations and the broader community. And with the current level of enthusiasm, there’s no doubt that this momentum will continue to build.

If your business is looking to get involved and make a difference, there’s no better time than now. To add your company to the list of those offering internships, simply reach out to Jordan Gross at [email protected]. By doing so, you’ll be joining a network of forward-thinking organizations that are dedicated to fostering the next generation of professionals.

The Journal Record reported this week that OKC is listed in the top 10 among large U.S. cities with the fastest growing housing market. Coincidentally, OKC's population has increased 15% over the last 10 years. New housing brings people to the community. And employers do love new workforce who buy houses in the area.  And why is that?  Stability.  Economic vitality. And generational wealth. (read the Journal Record Article here) 

Buying a house used to be the American dream.  It went along with 2.5 children, the dog and the stay at home mom.  But things change and they stay the same.  Buying a house is still some people's dream;  Most still want the dog, but maybe not the children.  The recent housing study sponsored by PCDA, shows that for the Ponca City population to grow, new houses in the $150,000 to $225,000 range must be built and be available for purchase but Ponca City residents; not investors.  The housing cost is based on an average household income of $50,000.  

That's a lot of mathing.  For households making more than $50,000/yr, a good average for housing costs is 30% of your income, including utilities, maintenance and all the fun things that come with home ownership.  If you want to check out the housing study, go to goponca.com and scroll down.  If you want to wait for the cliff notes, read the next August PCDA Economic Update.  

The Workforce & Education Summit held at Pioneer Technology Center yesterday was a hit.  Keynote speaker Mark Perna opened the day with a dynamic presentation on Focus, Plan and Action when addressing workforce and education alignment and current workforce gaps.  Perna gave a "call to action" for the employers, educators and support organizations in the room.  This lead into a panel discussion of local employers (picture above) talking about pressure points.  Moderator for the panel was Adam Leaming, Ponca City Public School Superintendent; (standing) and from left to right seated:  Mark Perna; Chris Mendoza, Integris Hospital; Robbie Powell, Cookshack; Erik Peitz, CME and Jeff Williams, Centerline.   Topics on the panel included what types of programs each of the businesses had to recruit and keep employees, training and future plans to fill their employee pipelines. 

Next up was an interactive lunchtime with table discussions followed by Joe Cox and John Woods presenting information on registered apprenticeships.  This included how to get started, the funding that is available (yes, there is money for your company's apprenticeship program) and how their office will sit down with your company to fill out the paperwork.  

Then Gen Z took the stage.  Laurence Beliel, PCDA was the moderator for these twenty somethings who are living and/or working in our community.  They had a lot to say about being in the workforce, what motivates them to work and why they do what they do.  From left to right below:  Dylan Magic, CPM Bliss; Jenna Wells, WTA Architects; Maddie Newcomb, Marland's Place and Josh Brown K&C Manufacturing.  These Z'ers gave the room some lighthearted moments, from calling the 40 hour work week "A scam" to emphasizing that there has to be life/work balance for employees.  Not just Gen Z, but everyone.  

Whether you were a participant, a panelist or a partner, PCDA, Pioneer Technology Center, NOC and The Ponca City Chamber thank you for being part of this conversation.  Because this is just the start.  Fill out those surveys and get ready for more conversations on the future of workforce and education in Ponca City.   If you have questions or would like access to the information shared during the Summit, please contact Liz Leaming at lleaming@goponca or call the office at 580.765.7070. 

Gamemasters Guild, a 2019 PCDA Business Plan Pitch-off participant, had an idea for a mobile gaming unit. Because they like to share their passion for tabletop and board games, this homegrown small business wanted to take their business on the road to smaller communities lacking a hobby store. Enter The Backing Small Businesses Grant. 

This grant will enable GMG to take our business on the road and engage more gamers, board and electronic, young and old alike.  "Look for us at your next community event!" stated Matt Prater, one of the owners of Gamemasters Guild.  "Though we are excited to receive this national grant, our local economic development office, PCDA, has always been a small business cheerleader," continued Prater.  "Without the Business Plan Pitch-off Competition, and the City of Ponca City Grant in 2022,  our hobby business would not have survived one year, let alone COVID."  

Gamemaster's Guild received a $10,000 Backing Small Businesses Grant presented by American Express, in partnership with Main Street America.  They were one of only 500 recipients of this program.  The program's 2024 grant recipients represent U.S. small businesses across all 50 states, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico.  Later this year, grantees will have the opportunity to apply for an additional $30,000 enhancement grant that will be awarded to 25 small businesses. 

Since launching in 2021, Backing Small Businesses has provided over $9 million in grants to 1,180 small business owners nationwide.  American Express and Main Street America initially created the grant program to help economically vulnerable small business owners recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and grow their businesses. 

This program is part of American Express’ “Backing Small” initiative to provide financial support and resources to small business owners experiencing economic hardships. Other Backing Small grant programs include Backing Historic Small Restaurants and Backing International Small Restaurants. Backing Small is an extension of American Express’ longstanding commitment to support small independent businesses globally, including through its Shop Small movement and Small Business Saturday campaign, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Meet the most recent Backing Small Businesses

​Enhancement Grant Recipients: https://mainstreet.org/the-latest/news/500-small-business-owners-receive-10-000-grants-through-backing-small-businesses-program

To learn more about the Backing Small Businesses grant program and learn about the grantees, click here.