Greetings!
I think it’s safe to say that we all have Spring Fever. Flowers are starting to bloom, optimism is growing, and business activity is ramping up. The key to enjoying Springtime, is to know that you have put in the work in advance that will produce an abundant harvest. A plentiful Spring requires time in advance preparing the soil, planting the seeds, watering, fertilizing, and sometimes getting a little dirty. Economic development is very similar. In Enid, we have planted seeds through investments in our infrastructure, our development processes, our quality of life, and in supporting our local businesses. We are beginning to see the results of this hard work, and with patience and persistence, I have no doubt we will have continued successes this year.
Enjoy reading this newsletter that talks about the many exciting things already happening in Enid this year. We are thrilled about the continued investment from Koch Fertilizer in their plant in Enid. We couldn’t ask for a stronger community partner. We also have new restaurants opening in Enid – welcome to Bricktown Brewery! Can’t imagine that there are many communities coming out of the pandemic who are opening new restaurants – it’s a testament to the strength of our market and a good sign of things to come!
Look forward to seeing you around town, enjoying the sunshine and the great things happening in Enid, Oklahoma!
Sincerely,
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ERDA Board of Directors
Sandra Robinett
Matt Parrish
Scott Athey
Brady McCullough
Martie Oyler
Don Roberts
Brian Henson
Scott Northcutt
Kyle Williams
Dave Lamerton
George Pankonin
Rob Stallings
Jonathan Waddell
Todd Hamilton
Non Voting:
Jerald Gilbert
Jon Blankenship
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Koch Fertilizer to Invest $150 million in Enid Expansion |
Koch Fertilizer announced on Wednesday it is investing approximately $150 million in Enid expansion! This investment builds on the $1.3 billion Enid expansion and modernization improvements made from 2014 to 2017.
“We are extremely pleased to see Koch Fertilizer continue to invest in their Enid facility,” said Lisa Powell, executive director of Enid Regional Development Alliance. “Koch is a strong community partner and an employer of choice in this area. Anytime a company takes a commodity, adds value to it, and sells it direct to the consumer, it creates a ripple effect of economic activity throughout the community.”
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Bricktown Brewery Coming to Enid |
We are excited to welcome Bricktown Brewery to Enid!
The addition of Bricktown Brewery shows that Enid is continuing to attract high-caliber restaurants, retail and event venues that add to the strong quality of life available here. It is great to know that Bricktown Brewery is a member of the Oklahoma Craft Brewers Association and partners with other breweries across Oklahoma to feature them in their restaurant.
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City to save $8 million on Kaw Lake water storage fees |
The city of Enid is saving $8 million on water storage fees for the Kaw Lake pipeline project after city and state officials worked to amend provisions in a federal water resources bill.
The total Kaw Lake project is estimated to cost about $317 million that will allow a 70-miles pipeline to provide the city of Enid with 10.5 million gallons of quality of water a day.
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Shuttered Venue Operators Grant - Applications Open April 8 |
The U.S. Small Business Administration's Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program was established by The Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020. The program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, earmarked for live music and comedy venues, agents, promoters, theaters and festivals, to be administered by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance.
Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
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$26.8 Billion in Relief for Restaurants |
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) designates $28.6 billion to create a Restaurant Revitalization Fund to be administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The legislation creates the funding, but the SBA will need to establish an application and approval process and detailed documentation requirements.
The grants made will be equal to an entity’s pandemic-related revenue loss with a maximum grant size of $10 million per eligible entity and any affiliated businesses and a cap of $5 million per physical location. The funds can be used to cover allowable costs for the period from February 15, 2020, to December 31, 2021, or another date to be determined by the SBA that is not later than two years after the ARPA’s enactment. The SBA will set aside $5 billion for entities with 2019 gross receipts of $500,000 or less. The remaining $23.6 billion will be awarded in an equitable manner to eligible entities of different sizes based on annual gross receipts.
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If you are wanting to increase revenue opportunities by growing your export readiness, the ODOC STEP Grant is an important resource for you. It can help pay for creating a website in a foreign market for your company (website localization). It can help pay for trade shows that are key to your industry (ODOC has designated several but is open to adding more if it makes sense). It can also help with participating in trade missions with B2B connections in various markets.
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The Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance and Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC) have developed a portal to assist manufacturers with Supply Chain needs. The purpose of this portal is to help Oklahoma companies better connect with each other, increase business opportunities and be more easily discovered as suppliers. It will allow those in need to search by production capability, certifications, equipment, material types, etc. Training for manufacturers will be held April 7, 9, and 20.
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USDA Announces Additional $35 Million for Value-Added Producer Grant Program |
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is making an additional $35 million available this year in the Value-Added Producer Grant Program to support agricultural producers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding is made possible through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. In total, $76 million is available.
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Enid's annual day at the Capitol a hopeful 'return to normal' for community leaders |
“Enid has all the things businesses want,” Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell told more than 20 leaders representing numerous sectors of the community such as local government, public education, commerce and community service for Enid’s Day at the Capitol on March 29th.
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ERDA Receives NWOSU 2021 Friends of Entrepreneurship Award |
The Enid Regional Development Alliance is honored to be a recipient of the 2021 Friends of Entrepreneurship Award from Northwestern Oklahoma State University Enid Campus.
ERDA is proud to collaborate on and support events organized through the Enid Entrepreneur Leadership Series such as the NWOSU Enid Entrepreneur Seminar, The Cherokee Strip Business Model Competition, and the NOC Business Simulator Competition. Each of these events are vital in preparing the next generation to continue Enid's rich entrepreneurial spirit.
Pictured left to right: Dr. Wayne McMillin (NWOSU), Lisa Powell (Enid Regional Development Alliance), Dr. Jerry Gustafson (NWOSU)
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Keys to Landing Industry in Enid |
Are you curious why companies decide to locate in specific communities and not others? Each year, thousands of companies consider expanding or relocating to a new community. A company’s process to move includes a detailed checklist of items to ensure the selected location fits both the company and community. Factors that influence a company’s decision may include the availability of rail, access to an airport, proximity to utility services, available buildings, or a workforce trained for the type of work they need.
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