In the KNOW!

July 28| 2025

Care to Grow, Childcare Grant Program

We’re excited to launch Care to Grow, a new childcare grant program made possible by a $200,000 award from the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness. Through this initiative, Shawnee Forward member businesses may be eligible to receive up to $5,000

per eligible employee per year to help offset the cost of childcare.

This program comes at a critical time for our community. In Pottawatomie County, families are facing a significant gap in childcare availability, with just under 1,500 licensed childcare slots for a population of more than 72,000. Annual childcare costs in our county range from $10,790 to $12,468, depending on the child’s age and the type of provider, putting a considerable financial strain on many working families.

When care is unavailable or unaffordable, employees are often forced to make tough decisions. Cutting hours, missing work, or leaving their jobs entirely has a ripple effect not only on families but on businesses and their customers. That’s why we’ve created a Childcare Toolkit to help educate employers about the real impact inconsistent childcare has on the workforce. This toolkit includes valuable information, data, and resources to help you better understand the issue and explore practical solutions.

The Care to Grow childcare grant program is designed to address these challenges head-on by supporting families, strengthening our workforce, and helping local employers recruit and retain parent employees. I’m currently scheduling appointments to meet with business owners and HR managers who want to learn more about how this program and the toolkit can benefit their teams. If you’re interested, I’d love to come out and talk through the details with you. Email me directly to schedule a time. CEO@ShawneeForward.com

To learn more, access the toolkit, or apply for the grant, visit

www.shawneeforward.com/childcare. Applications are open now, and we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in your employees and the future of Shawnee.

-Crystal

President and CEO

UPCOMING EVENTS

PCYP Meet-Up: Tuesday, August 5 at 9 AM at Chick-fil-A

Join us at Chick-fil-A for our next Pottawatomie County Young Professionals gathering! Meet our incoming co-chairs, Allison Coffman (OBU) and David Dinsmore (Sovereign Bank), and connect with other local young professionals.

We’ll chat about what’s ahead for the rest of 2025 and how you can get involved. PCYP is open to individuals 18–40 who are looking to grow, give back, and build meaningful connections right here in our community.

Meet other young professionals and connect with us over breakfast and coffee at Chick-fil-A! We can’t wait to see everyone and invite a young professional to join us.

Ready to Roll? Bowling for Business is Almost Here!

Join us Tuesday, August 19, at FireLake Bowling Center for one of the most fun, competitive, and high-energy events of the year! This is your shot to show off your skills, connect with other professionals, and maybe even snag some bragging rights and prizes.

There’s still time to sign up your team and grab a sponsorship, but don’t wait. Lanes are filling fast, and you do not want to be the one hearing about it instead of being there.

Sponsorships are also available if you want to showcase your business, but you'll need to move quick. Sponsorship Deadline is August 6th.

Reach out to Crystal or Daniel to sign up or snag a sponsorship before they’re gone!

New Fiscal Year, Fresh Start!

July 1 marked the start of our new physical year for Shawnee Forward, making it the perfect time to review your Shawnee Forward member profile on our website in the Business Directory. Make sure your business info is current so people can find you in the member directory! Double-check your:

Company reps
Emails & phone numbers, address
Website address & Social media links
Logo (if you're at the Essential level or above)

You can log in and update everything through the Member Login. If you need help accessing your account, reach out to Daniel by phone or email—he’s happy to help!

New Sponsorship Opportunities

Get Your Business Seen!

Want to boost your visibility in the community? Now’s the time to check out all the ways you can showcase your business through Shawnee Forward events and programs this year!

From high-energy gatherings to meaningful community initiatives, we’ve got sponsorship opportunities at every level—and some come with limited spots.

Click the image above to explore what’s available, then connect with Daniel or Crystal to lock in your spot or ask questions. Let’s put your business front and center!

Leadership Shawnee Class #39

Applications Are Now Open!

Learn More and Apply

BUSINESS RESOURCES

New Ordinances to Support Growth and Downtown Revitalization

At the July 14, 2025, City Commission meeting, the Shawnee Board of Commissioners approved two ordinances aimed at supporting business development and improving the safety and appearance of the city’s core areas.

Ordinance 2817NS – Businesses in Shawnee Marketplace near I-40 & Kickapoo can now have larger wall signs (up to 440 sq. ft.) to improve visibility and branding.

Ordinance 2818NS – New rules are in place for vacant buildings along Main Street (Kickapoo to Harrison), requiring owners to report, maintain, and secure their properties.

Learn more about these two new ordinances here

American Made? How to Market Your Made in USA Products

Consumers are interested in buying U.S.-based products, a need that small businesses are uniquely positioned to meet.

One of the biggest arguments for reshoring your production operation is that it can attract new customers. A recent poll from the Alliance for American Manufacturing found that 82% of shoppers would buy more Made in America products if they were sold more widely. Reshoring your manufacturing can not only bring in new business but also boost brand loyalty. Here’s what you need to know about marketing your domestic production operation.

Read the Entire Article

MEMBER EVENTS

TOMORROW

Gordon Cooper, Rocket Man Run

August 23rd

Want Your Event in Our Newsletter?

If you're a Shawnee Forward member and have an upcoming event you'd like to share, we’d love to help spread the word! Please email your flyer to Daniel or Crystal at least two weeks before the event, and we’ll include it in the two newsletters leading up to your big day.

It’s a great way to get your event in front of the community.

Don’t miss out on this member benefit!

Thank you, CLEAResult, for your generous sponsorship of our newsletter, "In the Know". Your support enables us to keep our community informed and engaged with the latest updates and events.

Shawnee Forward | 405-273-6092