Greetings!
It doesn't seem long ago that we were starting 2021, but isn’t it nice to be back in the Holiday Season!? While in a lot of ways this year has gone by extremely fast, it has also been a long year of transitioning back to “normal”. November and December will be no different with all of the exciting things happening this holiday season. There will be plenty of unique, outdoor Holiday activities to fill up your schedule.
Living in Enid offers a quality of life that many are seeking following the lock-downs and layoffs of the COVID pandemic. Our unique culture and vibrant lifestyle is one that allows personal growth, personal freedom, and work-life balance. ERDA is focused on sharing the news of the abundant life available in Enid. We are excited to be launching a number of talent attraction initiatives to connect with those who have roots in NW Oklahoma, or who are looking for a place where they can slow down, put first things first, and make an impact in their community.
In order to showcase the opportunities in Enid, we have launched a new job board platform, WorkinEnid.com. This site makes it easy to promote available jobs in the area, and provides a simple, straight-forward interface for the job seeker. While we will be sharing this site with those who have ties to northwest Oklahoma and those who are looking for a place where they can live out their priorities and make an impact, I encourage each of you to share it with your family and friends. With thousands of out-of-town visitors expected to come to Enid over the next two months, we have an excellent opportunity to introduce people to Enid, OK.
While it is a busy time of year, I hope you take time to enjoy all of the activities taking place, shop local, invite friends and family to visit, and welcome those you meet. (There’s no supply chain backlog if you buy local!) It is our citizens who make Enid a great place to live, work, and grow. Help us spread the message of our great community to others!
If we can be of assistance to help your business grow, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Sincerely,
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ERDA Board of Directors
Sandra Robinett
Matt Parrish
Scott Athey
Dwight Hughes
Martie Oyler
Don Roberts
Brian Henson
Scott Northcutt
Kyle Williams
Dave Lamerton
George Pankonin
Rob Stallings
Jerry Allen
Jason Turnbow
Non Voting:
Jerald Gilbert
Jon Blankenship
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WorkinEnid.com is Active!! Help Spread the News! |
The Enid Regional Development Alliance is proud to announce the launch of www.workinenid.com an Enid-specific job board promoting open positions in Garfield County. Job seekers will have one place to find available career opportunities across all industries in Enid. First and foremost, the new platform will be user friendly for the job seeker. Secondarily, it will provide Enid businesses a real-time link to their website careers page at www.workinenid.com. For those without a website careers page, job openings may also be posted manually.
Posting jobs and linking with workinenid.com is free for members of ERDA, Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce, and Main Street Enid. Non-members may post jobs for $25 per job or $150 to link their company careers page with workinenid.com.
If you have any questions about workinenid.com, please contact Debbie Moore, ERDA Project Manager at 580-233-4232 or debbie@growenid.com
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ERDA Accepting Applications for MicroEnterprise Grant |
The Enid Regional Development Alliance (ERDA) is now accepting applications for its third year of the MicroEnterprise Grant. In 2022, ERDA will award (2) $10,000 grants to two local businesses with six or fewer employees. Recipients can use the funds for any business expense necessary for the operation, management, formation, or expansion of the company.
In 2021, ERDA awarded MicroEnterprise Grants to Enid Family Martial Arts and Lenox Drive-In. Both recipients utilized their funds in unique ways to support the growth of their businesses. Enid Family Martial Arts utilized funds to purchase a new van to increase their after-school program outreach while Lenox paved the parking lot of their historic site.
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Bluepeak broke ground on October 21st on a $23M fiber network expansion that will bring high-quality, high-speed broadband and video services to nearly 23,000 homes and businesses in Enid. |
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Don't miss the Holiday Season in Enid! |
Don't miss out on visiting Enid this holiday season! From the World's Tallest Christmas Tree to Holiday's on Ice there is plenty to see and do in Enid.
Best day to visit? Join us on November 26th for Enid Light Up the Plains and the lighting of the 140 ft. Christmas Tree.
Nov. 26th Schedule:
5:00pm - Live Christmas Music
5:45pm - Special Performance
6:00pm - Christmas Lights Parade
7:15pm - The One Tree Lighting
7:45pm - Park Avenue Thrift Firework Grand Finale
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Enid Axe renovates bathroom with assistance from ERDA grants |
Enid Axe added two new handicapped- accessible, gendered bathrooms, to make a total of six spaces patrons can use in the downtown building.
Enid Regional Development Alliance allocated funds to give as small business renovation grants. The grant is set up as a reimbursement for work done to the business up to $5,000. The grant is slated to start at $2,500 but can be extended to those doing bathroom renovations.
“The full $5,000 grant will go to the bathrooms that we are working on,” said Lafe Coldwater, owner of Enid Axe. “One of the biggest problems with these buildings downtown is that it is very costly to get things up to code.
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Rotarian Paul Allen talks about a lifetime of ‘God interventions’ |
There are many keys to success, but for longtime Enid business icon and philanthropist Paul Allen, two main ingredients in his success have been good parenting and a trust in God.
The 86-year-old Allen, who started Advance Food Co. in the early 1970s in Enid, said there have been a lot of “God interventions” in his life. He spoke to Enid Rotary Club on Monday about the his humble beginnings and how he created a multi-million-dollar successful business during what fellow Rotarian Doug Frantz designated as Paul Allen Day at Rotary.
“If you know Paul, he is a modest man, but I twisted his arm and told him the people of Rotary and people of Enid need to hear your story,” Frantz said. “Paul will tell us his success has a lot to do with timing, good luck and serendipity, if you will … Paul worked harder, he worked longer and he was smarter than his competition and was able to corner the market for his products.”
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City of Enid Achieves Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Certification |
The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO), in conjunction with Visit Enid, is proud to announce the City of Enid has achieved ‘film friendly’ certification after completing the requirements for OF+MO’s Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Program.
The City of Enid is the first community in Northwest Oklahoma to achieve film friendly designation through OF+MO’s Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Program, joining nearly a dozen other cities across the state that have received this certification. No stranger to film production, Enid has previously hosted films such as “Wildlife”, the acclaimed directorial debut of actor Paul Dano starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan, and “To the Stars”, both of which celebrated their world premieres at the renowned Sundance Film Festival in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
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Enid has added another public art mural to the community! Artist, Kiptoe recently completed a mural at the new Enid Skate Park located at 124 N. 5th St. |
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