November 6, 2022

STORIES OF ADA AREA ENTREPRENEURS & INNOVATORS

Critical Thinking and Endless Possibilities: Stacey Bolin and Entrepreneurship Education

One of the major challenges with building a culture of tech-based entrepreneurship is finding the people to help us make this vision a reality as something that can happen in rural Oklahoma. We are lucky, though, to have such an ally in Dr. Stacey Bolin, Associate Professor in the Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business and Director of the Wilburn L. Smith Center for Entrepreneurship at East Central University.

KICKING OFF THE SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA QUARTERLY ENTREPRENEURSHIP LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE

What Happened? A regional Entrepreneurship Leadership Roundtable is being formed and the first meeting was held on November 3^rd at the Chickasaw Nation’s Ardmore Community Center.

The Context: This is an effort created through the Build to Scale Grant awarded by the EDA to create scalable technology startups in the region of Southern Oklahoma. A key part of supporting new tech startups in our rural region is to create engagement in support at a local level throughout a 10-county area. The idea is to create a space for entrepreneurs, support organizations, startup champions, and local officials to have a space to meet on a regular basis to share information, drive outreach to a regional network of entrepreneurs, and to build support at the community-level of this region.

The next meeting is being scheduled on a date in February of 2023 and future meetings will be held roughly every quarter throughout the Southern Oklahoma region. Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to contact Ashia Todd, Startup Community Manager with the Ada Jobs Foundation. Email: atodd@growada.com

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK ACTIVITIES

Global Entrepreneurship Week is a celebration of entrepreneurship during the week of November 14^th. Oklahoma boasts a number of events planned for this week, and several events are scheduled in Ada.

Here is what is happening in Ada:

Tuesday, November 15^th, 4:00 pm: Rural Edge Ada Video Premiere
Wednesday, November 16^th, 1:00 pm: Ada Incubator Feasibility Study Presentation
Thursday, November 17^th, 9:00 am: Tiger Tank at East Central University
Thursday, November 17^th: 6:00 pm: The Big Pitch, Ada - RSVP

Other events can be found through the Global Entrepreneurship Network website .

SAUNKEAH SHOUT OUT

Saunkeah Shout OUT this week is LET’S VOTE on NOV. 8!

ON AVERAGE, LESS THAN HALF OF OKLAHOMA VOTERS VOTE IN THE GENERAL MIDTERM ELECTION. YOUR VOTE HAS THE POWER TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

49.7% of registered voters voted in the last general midterm election:

50.2% of voters were over the age of 62.
10.6% were 56-61 years old.
15.1% were 46-55 years old.
13.4% were 36-45 years old.
8.3% were 26-35 years old.
2.1% were 18-25 years old.

For the 2022 Oklahoma General Midterm Election: Check in with family, friends and neighbors. Make sure EVERYONE has a plan and is ready to vote.

WEEKLY MYTH BUSTER: The Ada Jobs Foundation is Not a Subsidiary of the City of Ada

The Ada Jobs Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit, economic development organization that serves the region of Ada, Oklahoma. The Ada Jobs Foundation works to strengthen Ada’s regional economy by supporting companies which create quality jobs through programs focused on Business Retention and Expansion, Workforce Development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Investment Attraction, and Community Development.

The Ada Jobs Foundation’s work is partnership-driven and works with the City of Ada through a long-running relationship. The Ada Jobs Foundation contracts with the City of Ada to carry out economic development activities, promote job creation, and work to increase the tax base of the City of Ada. As part of this arrangement, the Ada Jobs Foundation has received funding from the City of Ada’s Proposition 2 sales tax for economic development to hire professional staff, carry out programs, administer grants, leverage state and federal funding, and recommend incentives.

Since the Ada Jobs Foundation was formed in 1998, over 4,400 new jobs have been created in Pontotoc County and the average annual wage has increased by 45% to $49,228 in 2021 (adjusted for inflation). Ada’s total sales tax collections have increased by 94% since 1998, from $9.2 million to over $18 million in 2021. The increase in jobs and wages mean more economic opportunity for the people in Ada and the increase in sales tax means the City of Ada can deliver the services necessary to ensure Ada is a great place to live. These increase in these key figures is significant and Ada’s growth is made possible through this close partnership with the City of Ada.

In addition, the Ada Jobs Foundation also partners with the Chickasaw Nation, Pontotoc Technology Center, East Central University and numerous private-sector partners, including banks, manufacturing firms, healthcare centers, startups, and large export-service firms. The Ada Jobs Foundation works closely with other community organizations, such as the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce and Ada Main Street to ensure Ada is a thriving place to live and do business. Beyond Ada, the Ada Jobs Foundation is an Accredited Economic Development Organization through the International Development Council and is a member of the Rural Innovation Network, through the Center on Rural Innovation, and Select Oklahoma.

We are proud to partner with the City of Ada to support a resilient economy, promote the creation of new quality jobs, and ensure we have the capacity to grow as a community.

WELCOME to ADA DOWNTOWN:

Jessica Conway, Executive Director of Ada Main Street. Jessica is an East Central University graduate and has extensive experience in public relations, events, and small business advocacy, as she is a small business owner.

PHOTO SOURCE: The Ada News

Make plans to attend The Oka' Institute Water Sustainability Conference on November 8-9, 2022.

Learn more and buy tickets here!

SUPPORT LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS

Want to support the competition and encourage local entrepreneurs?

Ada Jobs Foundation

580-235-0070

www.growada.com

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