The Ponca City Chamber of Commerce Community Development Committee held their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, June 15 at 10 am.

Mindy Meyer called the meeting to order.

At the top of the meeting, it was shared that the Chamber is currently seeking auction items for the Party at the Palace Chamber Auction that will be held on Friday, Aug. 18. This auction is held once every other year and is the sole fundraiser held by the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce. If you or a business wish to donate an item for the auction this year, contact the Ponca City Chamber at 580-765-4400.

Committee members then went around the room to share various Ponca City and Kay County updates.

Don Nuzum, manager at the Ponca City Airport, provided an update.

The airport experienced a lot of traffic over the weekend during the rodeo, including guests such as Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. After they left, a CRJ-500 took off carrying all the security.

Hunter Vap with Title Title and Closing provided an update.

Titan Title had an event at Bob Hurley from 11 am to 2 pm with several agents and a lender that was geared toward answering questions on buying a home, rates, and similar topics. The event also featured coffee, and food trucks.

Vap also sits on the board for Habitat for Humanity and provided an update.

The ReStore stayed open until Saturday, June 17, and will be closed for two weeks as they move to their new location at 1407 N. 7th Street.

Matthew Schatz with ZK Enterprises provided an update.

They have been moving forward with the arcade for the plaza.

Artwork has been sent off for the design of the yoga studio in the plaza.

Lori Henderson with Ponca City Development Authority (PCDA) shared an update.

The Duke Spec Building is looking to see completion in August. PCDA is looking to take a tour of the facility with their board in the next month or so.

The City Central HVAC project has nearly completed Phase 1, and Phase 2 will commence on the fifth floor in July and August.

Sue Lunsford provided updates for Community Health Foundation and Marland’s Place Community Health Foundation is in the process of getting information from various groups that have received grants.

The Marland’s Place Family Fun Day will be on Saturday, Aug. 5 from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Richard Evans with the Ponca City Police Department shared that the department hopes to move into the new Public Safety Center next month.

Ponca City Police Chief Don Bohon shared that Cars and Coffee Club has started monthly Sunday meet-ups and they are planning a “Dragging Grand” event on Friday, Aug. 4 Jenna Wynes with Winterrowd-Talley Architects provided an update.

The Anderson STEM building is currently under construction.

The Howell restroom Phase 2 at the high school is currently in progress and those are being prepared for next year.

The baseball stadium has been demo’d and construction is expected to begin shortly.

Liberty Elementary School is under construction right now and is set to be finished by next school year.

The Indoor/Outdoor Facility documents have been sent off to Kyler Construction and they are waiting to receive the numbers for that project.

Work on the tennis facilities will be starting soon as well.

Wynes also provided an update for the Ponca City Federated Music Club and Ponca Young Employees (PYE).

The Federated Music Club will have a concert on Friday, June 23, and a convention on Saturday, June 24.

PYE will have a bar crawl event on Saturday, June 24 from 5 pm to 7 pm at The Axehole, Astoria Bar and Grill, Vortex Alley Brewing, and the Grand Cigar and Lounge. It is themed around people’s favorite holidays and there will be a raffle with proceeds going toward PYE’s scholarship fund for a non-traditional student at the University Center.

Derion Schieber with The Farm House Kids Co. and Harvest Hall provided an update.

Schieber shared that The Farm House Kids will be having a big tent sale during Crazy Days at the end of July.

Harvest Hall has been booked every weekend with several graduation parties, family reunions and baby showers.

Ashley Villines shared that she started working as the Director of Vocational Services at the Opportunity Center, an employment center that focuses on finding jobs for their clients.

Villines also shared that the Humane Society was looking for fosters for cats and kittens that need homes.

Zach Trantham provided a tourism update.

The Chamber is coming to the end of their fiscal year and are currently updating their visitor’s guide and maps.

100 visitors bags have been made for various events around town.

Ponca City has received visitors from Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Texas, and all over Oklahoma. Attractions have reported international travelers as well.

Tourism is working with a group out of Arizona for a visit to Ponca City next year in the last weekend in September.

What’s Happening Ponca City? has received over 11,000 views this month.

July will have several events including fireworks at Lake Ponca on July 4, Down by Downtown (DXDT) on July 7, the band M-Pyre at the Axehole on July 8, Crazy Days from July 27 to July 29 and the Crazy Days Street Party on July 28.

The billboard on South and Waverly is in disrepair and the Chamber is working with the city to update it.

Trantham and Shelley Arrott attended the RedBud State Tourism Awards in Oklahoma City. Ponca City Main Street’s Ice on the Plaza won the award for Outstanding State Attraction.

Ally Broome provided updates on several non-profit organizations.

The Fostering Connections bus will be at Marland’s Place on July 13 from 11 am to 1 pm. This bus brings resources such as clothing, hygiene products, beds, car seats and more directly to foster families in need. Foster families can sign up on the Marland’s Place Facebook page.

The Northern Oklahoma Humane Society will have their golf scramble on July 28, the price is $400 per team.

The Opportunity Center has registration open for the Cherokee Strip Golf Classic, they are also looking for sponsors and raffle items.

Additionally, the Sean Anderson Memorial Fish Fry Blood Drive benefiting the Opportunity Center will be held on June 30 from 9 am to 6 pm at the Carolyn Renfro Event Center.

The Child Development Center has a new mural installed on the west side of the building, and new signage is coming soon.

Ponca City Arts and Humanities Council will have their first Friday’s events at Veteran’s Plaza on Friday, July 7.

City Arts Youth Summer Camp will be held from July 10 to July 14, there are also scholarships available.

United Way of North Central Oklahoma’s Day of Caring project applications are open now. If you have unmet needs at your agency, you can submit a project request online at www.uwnco.org/form/ day-of-caring-project-submission.

NERA is offering free summer meals for kids ages one to 18 on Mondays and Fridays.

Attucks Community Alliance is holding their Juneteenth celebrations from June 16 to June 18.

Ambucs Charity Angels will have a firework stand opening on Lake Road in front of Elks Lodge.

Living Hope Pregnancy Center will be offering free ultrasounds this summer.

Northern Oklahoma Youth Services will have a golf tournament on July 8.

Pioneer Tech BIS Department is hosting a T&I breakfast on June 30 at 7:30 am, and the topic will be over nonprofits.

Maci Graves, executive director at Ponca City Main Street (PCMS) provided an update.

This year’s Cowboy Ball for Peachtree Landing was a big success. Information on upcoming sales at the store will be on their Facebook page.

Ice on The Plaza is currently selling dasher board sponsorships for this year’s event.

The Unity Mural has been completed on the west side of the Chamber building, and a ribbon cutting was held for it on Tuesday, June 6.

Crazy Day’s will take place from July 27 to July 29 with the street party taking place on Friday, July 28 from 6 pm to 9 pm at Veterans Plaza.

The Children’s Lemonade Walk will be back this year with a total of 42 spots for young entrepreneurs to set up lemonade stands in front of downtown stores during the event.

Mindy Meyer with AllianceHealth Ponca City provided an update.

The hospital recently selected its Employees and Directors of the Year.

Dr. Ross has been approved to accept Sooner Care and sees patients of all ages.

A plastic surgeon out of Tulsa has begun providing services at the hospital.

The hospital has a new Nurse Partitioner and Nurse Mid-Wife on staff.

Meyers also shared that NERA is in need of volunteers.

She also shared she will be attending a resource fair at Dorado Foods after the meeting.

Chamber CEO Shelley Arrott then provided her Chamber Update.

The Chamber hosted a Chamber Connection event for new members this past Tuesday.

The Chamber held their Elected Officials Picnic at 6 pm at Evans Big Fork Ranch on Thursday, June 15.

There was a ribbon cutting on Friday, June 16 at 2 pm for Sizzle Sauce Media located at The Link at City Central, 400 E. Central Avenue, Link #2.

The Chamber office will be closed on Monday, June 19 for the Juneteenth holiday.

Shelley Arrott, Tiffany Hermann and Kelly Cross will be attending the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, June 21.

The next Party at the Palace/Auction planning meeting will be Wednesday, June 21 at 4 pm at El Patio.

The next Business After Hours will be hosted by Cherokee Strip Credit Union at the Carolyn Renfro Event Center at Hospice of North Central Oklahoma on Thursday, June 29 from 5 pm to 7 pm. Leadership Ponca City applications have been sent out to nominees and are due back at the Chamber office by Friday, June 23.

The Chamber office will be closed on Tuesday, July 4 for the Independence Day holiday.

The next Chamber Cash Mob will be held on Tuesday, July 11 at 11:30 am at Frocks & Fashions located at 213 E. Grand Avenue.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, July 20 at 10 am.