Greetings!
Springtime is a perfect opportunity to start getting outside, whether doing yard work, walking the trails, or sitting out on the patio of a restaurant, many activities kick off at the start of spring. Enid First Friday downtown, NOC and Enid High baseball games at David Allen Memorial Ballpark, or the Spring Market at Red Bird Farms are a few local examples and I encourage everyone to get out and take part in the fun activities.
At ERDA, Spring in the time we reinvigorate our efforts to increase jobs, improve community assets that support business growth, and recruit and retain a talented workforce.to Enid. Our competition in growing the economy in Enid is an international affair. Companies (including those already in Enid) have an opportunity to locate and grow in any place across the globe. We are in a a race to prove that businesses grow here, that families thrive here, and there is no better place to enjoy all that life has to offer.
I do not doubt that our best days are ahead of us in Enid, Oklahoma. Our efforts are being noticed, and we are excited about our future. Give me a call if you are interested in learning more about how to Grow in Enid!
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
Whitney Roberts
Jason Turnbow
Non Voting:
Jerald Gilbert
Jon Blankenship
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Venture Road Ribbon Cutting |
On Wednesday, March 2, the Garfield County Industrial Authority held a ribbon-cutting for Venture Road. The new road was made possible through an $800,000 EDA grant and a $244,173 match by the City of Enid. The road will be an asset in filling the remaining 65 acres of the park for industrial development.
The Garfield County Industrial Park is a certified shovel-ready site through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The park is currently home to; Tyson Foods, Winfield United, NextLink Internet, and Chisholm Trail Meats. The new road will allow up to 6 new parcels to be sold to prospective industries.
The road was made possible by a collaborative effort between the Garfield County Industrial Authority, the City of Enid, the Northern Oklahoma Development Authority, and the Enid Regional Development Alliance.
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MicroEnterprise Grant Winners Announced |
The Enid Regional Development Alliance (ERDA) is proud to announce EH Metal Works and Preston’s Cycle & ATV as the third annual MicroEnterprise Grant recipients. A total of fifteen applications were received representing various small businesses in Enid. The (2) $10,000 awards are funded by $10,000 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and a $10,000 match by ERDA.
EH Metal Works is owned by Emme Hughes and does custom metal work, welding, and fabrication. Since starting in 2021, EH Metal Works has seen rapid growth. The funds from the award will go towards purchasing equipment and industry-specific software to allow the business to grow and meet customer demand.
David Preston and Arlan Potter own Preston’s Cycle and ATV. Located on Grand Avenue, Preston’s Cycle and ATV is a full-service motorcycle parts and repair shop and dealership. The dealership has been at this location since 2008? And employs 2 full time mechanics. Funds from the award will go towards a new metal roof for the building.
ERDA intends to offer the Microenterprise Program again during the 2022-2023 fiscal year. ERDA will release details on the application process in the fall of 2022. For more information, contact the Enid Regional Development Alliance at 580-233.4232.
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Redefining ‘How To Do Business’ – ERDA leaving foot on the gas for local business support during pandemic |
Lisa Powell, executive director of the Enid Regional Development Alliance, said her staff’s work supporting Enid businesses during the COVID pandemic has been like having their foot all the way on the gas pedal — all while driving with two more feet and having another on the brake.
The local economic development nonprofit’s focus going forward is on growing new jobs in Enid while continuing to grapple with the local fiscal impact of the COVID pandemic, Powell said in January.
“While things may have improved slightly — or we keep thinking things have improved — the moment we let that foot off the brake a little, there’s another challenge thrown at (businesses) to adapt to,” she said.
Demand for growth pent up from COVID-related project delays has returned from the pandemic’s early days in 2020, but Powell said that demand is hard with inflation, rising costs and a diminishing workforce.
“Probably, the reality is, we’re probably not going to go ‘back to normal,’ so now everybody’s trying to predict how to do business in a time we’ve never been through before — so it’s hard to predict,” she said. “Some of it is just re-engineering your business from the ground up.”
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Join us on Thursday, April 14, for ERDA's Quarterly Luncheon. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Marcie Mack, Director of Talent Acquisition and Development for the Mid-America Industrial Park in Pryor, Oklahoma.
Dr. Mack's presentation will discuss workforce development trends/challenges and talent attraction.
During the luncheon, the Enid Regional Development Alliance and Cherokee Strip Community Foundation will make a special announcement regarding a new talent attraction program.
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Enid Receives Grant for Industrial Park Development |
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce (Commerce) recently announced that 28 communities were selected to receive funding to support the development of 28 new industrial sites to market. In November, Commerce announced plans to use a portion of a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for local economic development organizations (EDOs) or consortiums of EDOs for site and infrastructure evaluations. As a recipient, Enid will use funds for the development of the Cimarron Industrial Airpark located on at Woodring Regional Airport.
The grant funds can be used to help
- Identify available sites capabilities;
- Identify what industries sites can support;
- Identify quantified site gaps and limitations;
- Conduct competitive capability assessments; and
- Make recommendations for investment in infrastructure gaps.
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New boutique opens downtown |
Another downtown Enid boutique with clothing for young adults had its grand opening Saturday, with its owner saying she wanted to be a part of the growing area.
Glen and Abby — House of Clark, located at 223 W. Randolph, is a boutique for all ages and genders, but the style of clothing in the store was influenced by the owner’s daughter.
Marjel Crow and her 15-year-old, Frances, run the store together, naming it after Marjel’s late grandparents, Glen and Abby Clark.
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Northwest Oklahoma Legislative Reception |
The Northwest Oklahoma Alliance will be hosting the 16th Annual Legislative Reception on Monday, March 28th from 5-7pm at the Oklahoma History Center. Join us as we visit with state leaders on key issues happening in NW Oklahoma.
The event is free to attend but, NwOA appreciates your RSVP
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EHS College & Career Fair |
Enid High School invites companies to participate in their College & Career Fair Summer Expo on April 27, 2022 from 12pm - 5pm at the EHS Gymnasium/PAC.
This is a great opportunity to showcase your company to students to find future workforce or summer employees.
RSVP to Ilene Christian
580-366-8310
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Helping Businesses Get Off the Ground – Autry Tech’s Strate Center preparing businesses for their best and worst days |
As restaurants and other small businesses in Enid faced unprecedented disruption with the COVID-19 pandemic, Kalea Stafford began her charcuterie to-go service to turn the world into her oyster.
Working out of a commercial kitchen at the center, Stafford makes clients their own boxes of the serving platters, which include cold cooked meats, cheeses and other finger foods meant for parties and special occasions.
What to learn more about the Strate Center? Click here
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EPS staff to get another ‘thank-you’ stipend, following recent statewide school trend |
Enid Public Schools staff who agree to work for the district next year will receive another round of retention stipends by next month.
With the $500 one-time supplemental pay EPS board members approved Monday night, district employees would be receiving a total $1,100 so far this school year.
These payments would arrive on or before March 2, with another $1,000 expected to come next fall pending another board vote.
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Working to put its best foot forward |
The reconstruction of one of Enid Woodring Regional Airport’s runways will smooth out the “cracks and the bumps” this coming months, according to Director Keston Cook.
The project to replace the airport’s 13-31 Crosswind Runway is projected to cost about $2.1 million, including engineering fees, he said.
“That is a full reconstruction,” he said, “a tear out of the current one and a full replacement.”
Cook said bidding for the project will be in March and funding will come from the FAA, Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission and the airport. He said he couldn’t be sure of the runway’s true age, but he did note it was last resurfaced in 2010.
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NOC’s 3 campuses work together to provide strong curriculum, greater access |
With campuses located in Enid, Stillwater and Tonkawa, Northern Oklahoma College can offer various opportunities to a wide range of students.
Jeremy Hise, NOC-Enid vice president, said there are multiple ways in which these three campuses work together to attract more students and offer a strong, appealing curriculum to students.
“Whatever the student is looking for — we have that opportunity available for them at Northern Oklahoma College,” Hise said.
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Enid Public Schools Athletics Facilities Overview |
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