The Ponca City Chamber of Commerce Community Development Committee held their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 16.

Rich Cantillon called the meeting to order for committee chair Mindy Meyer, who arrived later in the meeting.

The Chamber’s Receipt Campaign is currently underway. Those wishing to participate can bring their receipts from any Ponca City business to the Chamber Office with their name and phone number on the receipts. A drawing will be held at the end of the month for the chance to win Chamber Bucks.

Committee members then shared updates and community happenings.

Ben Evans and Janet Schwabe with Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) provided updates.

There are several upcoming courses at PTC including hazmat training operations, and a Canva 2.0 course, wild land firefighting, and a course on five strategies for disrupting your unconscious bias.

PTC has started a practical nursing select program for seniors in high school.

The monthly Business and Industry Breakfast is being revamped to target a specific business sector each month. The first sector will be healthcare and social services on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 am.

PTC is continuing to offer its truck driving training program.

PTC has acquired a new hand-held laser welder.

Tuesday, Feb. 28 will be the Partners for Progress Awards, and it was shared that K&C Manufacturing were the award recipient.

Lori Henderson with Ponca City Development Authority (PCDA) Red iron is up in the air at the Duke Spec building, the project is estimated to be completed in summer, barring supply chain issues.

The Cookshack Expansion is complete and has been moved into.

Laurence Belial will be attending the Design 2 Part show in Arlington, Texas on March 1 and March 2. It is a trade show that helps connect American job shops and manufacturers to engineers, management, and buyers who need their expertise and services.

City Central will begin their HVAC upgrade grant.

PCDA’s internship program, in partnership with Ponca City Public Schools (PCPS), has almost 70 students involved this semester.

Ashley Villines with Northern Oklahoma Humane Society (NOKHS) provided an update.

NOKHS held their Mutt Gala event on Saturday, Feb. 11.

NOKHS will have a vaccine clinic on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 10 am to 2 pm at their location at 900 W. Prospect Avenue. The clinic is open to walk-ins.

From March 7 to March 13, NOKHS will be having another free spay/neuter clinic at Marland’s Place. This time, their goal is 1300 animals in six days. NOKHS is looking for volunteers to assist with intake of the animals.

Airport Manager Don Nuzum shared that things are busy at the airport with military aircraft coming in. A runway project at south Oklahoma City airport is shutting down in a few months, and it has pilots looking for places to keep their airplanes.

Jenna Wynes with Winterrowd Talley Architects Inc. provided an update.

Winterrowd Talley is working on plans for a new airport terminal and Enrique’s west of the current one.

Other projects include the new Anderson STEM project at the high school, and a baseball stadium project is bidding on Feb. 28.

Construction documents for the new indoor/outdoor facility north of the high school are 50% complete.

Winterrowd Talley has also hired a new intern interior designer, Abby Wilton.

Maci Graves, Executive Director at Ponca City Main Street (PCMS), provided an update.

PCMS will be holding their annual Award Banquet on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at the Summit Room at City Central at 6 pm. Tickets are $25 and the theme is Mardi Gras. PCMS will also be awarding the Ponca City 5 Under 40 at the event, and an after party will be held at Astoria.

The Spring Ladies Night will be on Friday, March 3 from 5 pm to 9 pm. There will be a gift basket giveaway valued at over $400.

The Peach Tree Landing Cowboy Ball is scheduled for Friday, May 12 from 7:30 pm to 11 pm at MLZ Ranch. Table sponsorships are now available.

Sue Lunsford provided an update for Community Health Foundation.

The foundation’s annual fundraising event, Meal to Heal, will be held on April 22 at 6:30 pm at City Central. Tickets are $50. The event will feature a silent auction and a raffle for a cabin at Broken Bow.

Lunsford also shared an update for Marland’s Place, and shared that they will be holding their “Cocktails for a Cause” event on April 21 at Osage Casino from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm. The event will also feature a dueling piano show.

Zach Trantham provided a Ponca City Tourism update.

The Chamber Office has received visitors from 26 states and 2 foreign countries.

Trantham recently attended the American Bus Association (ABA) Marketplace in Detroit, Michigan from Feb. 3 to Feb. 8.

The Chamber submitted their ad for the April/May issue of OKToday. The ad will also be in the March issue of the Ponca City Monthly.

Trantham was on WBBZ radio on Thursday, Feb. 16 to discuss tourism.

Trantham and Rich Cantillon attended a meeting in Fairfax along with other entities in the state to discuss incoming tourism following the debut of Killers of the Flower Moon.

Chamber Vice-President Tiffany Hermann is currently in St. Louis for the St. Louis Working Women’s Show, which is the largest show the Chamber attends.

What’s Happening Ponca City? will have a new host in April.

Shelley Regnier with Cimarron Transit shared that they are short on drivers at the moment, but are continuing to serve the community to the best of their ability.

Mindy Meyer provided an update for AllianceHealth Ponca City.

AllianceHealth currently has their Heart Health Challenge going on.

There is a need for more nurses and all medical personnel.

AllianceHealth Ponca City is competing with AllianceHealth Durant in a “Jars of Love” contest to see who can receive the most donations of peanut butter with the local donations going to benefit NERA.

Dr. Stratton has moved offices and is now located in Suite 202.

Patients of Dr. Gray need to consider scheduling an appointment with a new primary physician soon while there are still openings for new patients.

The Blackwell Hospital’s status is changing, which should mean for patients for Ponca City.

Meyer also shared that Dr. Ross specializes in providing care to patients of all ages including pediatrics.

Rick Hancock with the Rusty Barrell Supper Club and 2023 Chamber Chair provided an update.

The first Party at the Palace Auction Planning meeting was held on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The current focus is on securing sponsorships. Everyone is invited to attend the meetings. Hancock also encouraged members to sponsor the event. This is the only fundraiser that the Ponca City Chamber holds, and they only do so every other year.

Chamber CEO Rich Cantillon provided his Chamber update.

Cantillon attended a town hall with Congressman Frank Lucas at Standing Bear Museum on Thursday, Feb. 16.

The next Business After Hours will be held at The Hub in Tonkawa from 5 pm to 7 pm on Thursday, Feb. 23.

A Ponca Politics forum will be held at City Hall from noon to 1 pm on Friday, Feb. 24. This forum will feature Senator Bill Coleman, and Representatives Ken Luttrell and John Pfeiffer.

A retirement reception will be held for Cantillon on Friday, Feb. 24 from 2 pm to 5 pm at the Ponca City Country Club.

The Chamber’s Receipt Campaign is underway with the drawing taking place on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 5 pm. The Grand Prize will be $500 in Chamber Bucks with five chances to win $100 in Chamber Bucks.

The next Cash Mob will be held at Plaza Wine & Spirits on March 2 at 11:30 am.

A ribbon cutting will be held on Friday, March 3 at 10 am for Wes & Willow at their new location at 205 E. Grand.

The Ponca Politics Committee is hosting a PCPS school board candidate forum on Friday, March 17 at noon in the City Commission Chambers. Both candidates, Judy Throop and Rod Wahl, will be in attendance.

The next Party at the Palace Auction Planning meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 22 at 4 pm at the Ponca City Country Club.

March’s Business After Hours will be held on Thursday, March 23 and will be hosted by Phillips 66.

A second legislative Ponca Politics forum will be held at City Hall from noon to 1 pm on Friday, March 24. This forum will feature Senator Bill Coleman, and Representatives Ken Luttrell and John Pfeiffer.

Tiffany Hermann will serve at interim CEO until Shelley Arrott joins the Chamber on June 5.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 16 at 10 am.