The Ponca City Chamber of Commerce Business Council held their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 6 at 8 am.

Ben Evans called the meeting to order.

A presentation was made following the meeting at the Hideaway Marina, which was named the June 2023 Business of the Month.

The Chamber is currently seeking auction items for the Party at the Palace/ Chamber Auction that will be held on Friday, Aug. 18. Those wishing to donate items for this year’s auction can contact the Chamber.

Next month’s Cash Mob will be held on Tuesday, July 11 at 11:30 am at Frocks and Fashions.

Chamber CEO Shelley Arrott then provided her Chamber report.

Arrott and Zach Trantham will be attending the Oklahoma Redbud Awards in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, June 13. The awards are for Oklahoma tourism entities. Ice on the Plaza from Ponca City Main Street has been nominated for an award.

A ribbon cutting will be held for Sizzle Sauce Media at Link #2 in the City Central Building on Friday, June 16.

On Wednesday, June 21, Arrott, Kelly Cross and Tiffany Hermann will be attending the annual State Chamber meeting at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

A Party at the Palace planning meeting will be on June 21 at 4 pm at El Patio.

Business After Hours this month will be on Thursday, June 29 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Carolyn Renfro Event Center and is hosted by Cherokee Strip Credit Union.

The Chamber is accepting applications for the 37th Leadership Ponca City class. Those applications are due on June 23.

Committee members then provided their updates.

Ben Evans with Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) shared an update.

PTC will be hosting a lunch and learn on mental health in the workplace on June 22 from 12 pm to 1 pm. It is $10 and includes lunch in the cafeteria.

Matthew Schatz with ZK Enterprises provided an update.

Both fox statues they have ordered have arrived, one is being painted presently and will be at the plaza on 14th Street.

Artwork has been sent off for signage for the yoga studio and arcade.

Kevin Florer with Edward Jones provided an update for Ambucs.

Ambucs had a state race this prior weekend, and will have another next weekend in Ponca City.

Angela Spicer with Professionals Today, and the Opportunity Center provided an update.

Professionals Today set up at the Herb Festival this past Saturday to sell raffle tickets for a smoker valued at $3500.

The 37th Annual Cherokee Strip Cook-Off will be Sept. 15 and 16. This year they will also feature vendors.

Jamie Philips with Grand Mental Health provided an update.

Grand Mental Health is averaging about 1500 clients in Kay County, and is busy with constant walk-ins.

They are in the process of hiring three more children’s councilors to help relieve caseloads.

The staff started a food pantry with dry foods to fill needs for kids coming through the backpack program.

Kerri Bowman with Equity Bank provided several updates.

Bowman shared that Ponca City Main Street (PCMS) is gearing up for Crazy Days at the end of July.

The Ponca City Police Foundation is currently raising money to place a fox statue in front of the new police station.

Brooke Jones with Redlands Office Solutions shared that chool supplies are anticipated to start rolling in.

Jones also shared that Leadership Ponca City is still holding a raffle fundraiser to assist Attucks. They have a smoker from Cookshack and a hunting rifle as raffle items, both valued at $1200. Tickets are $20 each and are being sold until June 19. The drawing is expected to be on Juneteenth.

Mayor Homer Nicholson provided a City of Ponca City update.

Mayor Nicholson and City Manager Craig Stephenson will be going to New Orleans for the Passenger Rail Association meeting. They have many phone calls, emails and Zoom meetings on the subject.

The new police station is anticipated to be completed sometime this summer.

The former Rue 21 space is being converted into a new business called Five Below.

HTeaO is a new business that is coming to the old A&W/Long John Silver’s location on Prospect.

The Oklahoma Legislature has finished the current session.

The Pioneer Place Apartments remodel is progressing.

Work continues at the Sunset Villas at 5th and Bradley with 90 new housing units.

The broadband project has been completed in Ponca City.

The City has two new ambulances on order, a new pumper truck, and a packer for the landfill.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 11 at 8 am.