Greetings!
Many of us set New Year's Resolutions at the start of every year. Typical ones include exercising more, eating healthy, reading more, or getting organized. Of course, they can be challenging. We expect many times to set goals and accomplish them immediately. If we don't see substantial progress in just a few short days or weeks, we can often lose motivation. It is essential that you keep pushing, get an accountability partner and find ways to stick towards your goal.
The same thing can be said about goals and projects in economic development. Often, nothing happens as fast as we expect it to, and challenges pop up along the way. But, I can tell you that pieces of the puzzle start coming together with persistence, and the results turn out better than planned.
We look forward to seeing many projects come to fruition in 2022 for Enid. We have our eyes set on success from increasing our retail opportunities, adding more entertainment options, attracting talent, and securing and retaining quality jobs. The staff at ERDA and our Board of Directors cannot accomplish these goals alone, though. Economic development is a team effort, and it takes the support of our members and partners to make it happen. Thank you to those of you who support ERDA, whether financially or by sharing resources. We hope you see the benefits your contribution makes to help Enid grow.
If you have any plans for 2022, please don't hesitate to reach out. We would love to discuss ways to partner with you to achieve your goals. In this newsletter you will even find a few ways that ERDA can assist you.
Happy New Year!
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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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Join us on Thursday, January 20th at the Oakwood Country Club for ERDA's first Quarterly Luncheon of 2022. During the luncheon our guest speaker will be Duane Smith, Lead Consultant for Duane Smith and Associates.
Duane's presentation will give an overview of Oklahoma's hydrology and the value water planning provides for economic viability.
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Vance class sets record with 8 female pilots |
Vance Air Force Base set a new record Dec. 3 as eight of the student pilots graduating in Class 22-03 were women. That broke the previous record of seven women graduating with Class 17-06 in March 2017.
The eight women and 22 men in Class 22-03 embraced their diversity by celebrating women throughout their entire time training in the T-6A Texan II. In fact, their class patch, an identifier worn by all members of the class, embraced female pop culture.
“We’re the ‘girl class,’” said 2nd Lt. Caitlin Bitting, now in follow-on training with the 25th Flying Training Squadron at Vance. “So we made our class patch based off of the movie ‘Mean Girls’ to tell people to ‘get in… we’re going flying.’”
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ERDA Awarding (2) Competitive $10,000 MicroEnterprise Grants in 2022 |
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.
Applications Due: February 4, 2022
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ERDA Industry Certification Assistance Program |
Business must have a minimum of 7 FTE whose average pay is equal to or greater than $30,000 and offer medical benefits where the employee pays no more than 50% of premium costs.
The Industry Certification Assistance Program will pay 50% of costs for a new national/international industry certification (I.e., ISO9000, HAACP) up to $5,000. Costs may include audit costs, travel and lodging expenses for auditors, or consultants, consultant fees, certification, and application fees. Certification must be business specific and not employee specific.
For more information contact
580-233-4232
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ERDA Equipment Purchase Program |
Considering buying new equipment to increase efficiency or add a new product line and need assistance? ERDA offers an equipment purchase program for Enid companies.
Qualification: Company must employ more than 7 FTE whose average pay is equal to or greater than $30,000 and the company must offer medical benefits where the employee pays no more than 50% of premium costs. The company must have annual revenues in excess of $1 million.
The Equipment Purchase Program will pay 50% of equipment purchase cost, up to $20,000. One award per business per year. Equipment should either increase efficiency for the company by increasing sales with less expense or add a new product line to the company.
This is a reimbursement grant and payment will be made upon arrival and installation of the new equipment.
For more information contact
580-233-4232
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Work.Play.Stay
You can have it all in Enid, Oklahoma!
As the 9th largest city in Oklahoma, Enid’s population of over 51,000 and trade area of over 150,000 makes it a major center of commerce and life. Enid boasts short commute times, a low crime rate, state-of the-art school facilities, two regional medical centers, new athletic facilities and a thriving public art and music scene. These are qualities that our friends in urban areas can only dream of, and as people are reprioritizing their life post-pandemic, Enid is reaping the rewards.
LiveinEnid.com provides the resources that someone needs to make the decision to move to Enid in one location. Our hope is that the new site will be beneficial as we attract individuals and their families looking for a place to belong and call home.
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Oakwood Bowl adds bumper cars, large arcade space |
A huge, bright arcade and flashing, twisting bumper cars are two of the newest additions to Oakwood Bowl’s family fun center.
The historic bowling alley renovated several spaces, transforming the building into an even bigger attraction.
Owners Jim and Sandy Tate said Sandy had wanted the arcade for 20 years since the former club space wasn’t consistently being used. Jack Tate, the late owner, and father of Jim, had always taught them to reinvest money into their business.
“It’s doing great already,” Jim said. “It has even attracted more people into come bowling.”
Over the span of four months at Oakwood Bowl, with the help of a few employees, the Tates facilitated the removal of four walls, bars and stage. The once gray, black and purple area was transformed as ceilings and walls were covered in custom paint patterns, with Sandy doing 90% of the work over the span of nine weeks.
The former club is now an 8,000-square-foot arcade, named Tate’s Fun Zone, after late owner Jack Tate. There are dozens of games for people of all ages lining the walls and spitting out tickets for prizes.
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Thank You to the following businesses who have renewed their ERDA Membership for 2022 |
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AT&T
Atwoods
A.W. Brueggeman Co.
The Bank of Kremlin
Stride Bank
City of Enid
Dillingham Insurance
Encompass FSI
Enel Green Power
Enid News & Eagle
Garfield County Industrial Authority
Hanor Family of Companies
Hutton Construction
Johnston Seed Co.
Jumbo Foods
Koch Fertilizer
Lippard Realty
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Jumbo Foods
Koch Fertilizer
Lippard Realty
Messer Bowers
NextEra
Northcutt Chevrolet Toyota Buick
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
ONEOK
PT
Pioneer Cellular
Sidwell Strategies
TPI Staffing Service
Transportation Partners & Logistics
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Contact Debbie to renew your membership or receive a new member application! [email protected], 580-233-4232 |
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