PCDA WEEKLY UPDATE
This Week
PCDA STAFF......were all over Ponca City (and the state)  this week.  Careers & Cookies at Po-Hi, job postings on PoncaWorks.com and continued visits with WildCat Academy students were productive (see story below); there was a great turnout at the Cookshack Ribbon Cutting (see video here); product was moved out of the AIP on big trucks (which was more of a watching than participating for staff, but we were there for the pictures); more concrete was poured on the Sykes Blvd extension; contracts were signed, letters were written and there might have been a meeting or two about the upcoming Business Plan Competition & Pitch-off, economic data gathering and a marketing campaign or two.  Whew.  Keep reading for the details......
Manufacturing Spotlight
SMOKIN…is a good way to describe things at Cookshack these days. On Tuesday, members of the PCDA board joined the Chamber and the crew at Cookshack to cut the ribbon on the new Cookshack facility in the Airport Industrial Park. Pictured above (L-R) are PCDA board members Lee Evans and Joe DeNoya, Cookshack President Stuart Powell, and PCDA board member Steve Hermann.  Yes, we know, they’re smokin’ too. If you remember your history, you will recall that PCDA and Cookshack made a deal last summer to allow the company to move into the PCDA building. The company has invested money in new amenities for the building, PCDA put in a new driveway and parking lot, and the company will lease the building with an option to purchase. There are 45 employees now in that building, up considerably from the previous tenant, and Powell says they are primed for growth. You saw this, we know, in Wednesday’s Ponca City News, at least you saw the building inside and machinery.  We thought you’d like to see some of the people behind the story.
Products Leaving Airport Industrial Park
THE UNDERGROUND WIRE PROJECT... continues this weekend to get all those overhead wires underground so these big tanks can make their way out of the AIP and out of town without taking someone's electricity offline.  Pictured is a smaller tank making its way out of the AIP on Waverly.  Stay tuned for the cool swiveling stoplights. And yes, staff thinks stuff like this is really cool.  Products that export out of the community (Cookshack, Head Country, Dorada Foods, etc..) bring more revenue into the economy than products that stay in the community, so as economic development staff, we love to see products made in our community, leave the community for purchase.  These tanks just happen to be REALLY big. 
Best Pitch words in a red and black ink grunge style stamp to illustrate the top, most convincing and persuasive presentation or proposal
BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION &.....Pitch-off. Not sure where to start?  Check out WWW.SBA.gov to see what a business plan entails, start gathering your information and get ready to Pitch Your Plan to a panel of judges.  Did we mention prizes were involved?  Yes, this is serious.  Mark your calendar now, Tuesday, April 25th and stay tuned for more pointers right here.   Don't know where to start?  Sound to complicated? Need some help? Sign up for the April 4th class at Pioneer Tech Business Services.  See flyer below for all the details.  Feel free to forward this to others who might be ready to build their business plan and start practicing their Business Pitch.
 

with Liz Pershing
JOB SHADOWING.....  was the topic of discussion at this month's edition of Careers & Cookies at the High School.  Local Eastman Banker Luke Garrison dazzled these soon-to-be high school grads with his Barry Bickle stories and the Army reps spoke of their own experiences in and out of the military.  Everyone of the students signed up to check out a local employer by job shadowing on location in March.   PoncaWorks continues to build interest for next week's PYE in the SKY Event.  PYE is short for Ponca Young Employees and free babysitting is being provided for those who have kiddos.   Interested?  RSVP to Liz at 580-716-2147 or send her an e-mail.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, Feb 23:  PYE in the SKY
Under 40?  You are invited for Pie and Cocktails.

Presented by the Evans Children's Academy of Performing Arts

Tuesday, April 4:  Prepare Your Business Plan
Pioneer Tech, BIS Bldg D101 (see flyer below)

April 7-8, 2017  Bison Bison Film Festival

Tuesday, April 25: Small Business Competition "Pitch Off"
More information to come, so stay tuned. 
 
City Central Building is now leasing.  Call Lori Henderson at 580-765-7070.
Eastman Building has two floors of customizable space.  Call Eastin Properties  580-761-5610