The Ponca City Development Authority (PCDA) held their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, March 9 at 7:30 am in the John McNeese Gallery at City Central.

PCDA Board Chair Nancy Laffey called the meeting to order.

Following approval of the consent calendar, a report on the Wildcat Internship program was provided by Ponca Works Director Liz Leaming and Ponca City Public Schools (PCPS) Internship Coordinator Jordan Jackson-Gross.

Since Jackson-Gross was brought on in October of 2022 at PCPS, the internship program had 44 student interns, that number has increased to 68 student interns.

The program has worked on a partnership with the Ponca Tribe to open up new opportunities for all students. The program has new 11 business partners since last semester and receives calls from a variety of groups about want to work with interns in their businesses.

Jackson-Gross is also working with STEM teachers to help place students in STEM technical fields.

Future goals include creating opportunities for students and organizations in Ponca City that need to grow their workforce.

The Board voted to approve a payment of $60,000 to the City of Ponca City to match a two-year federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program providing first time home buyer assistance. For the past several years, PCDA has budgeted $30,000 to match the CDBG, it is used by people moving into the community to buy their homes for the first time and expand their workforce.

Laurence Beliel then reported on the Design-2Part show that was held in Arlington, Texas on March 1 and March 2. This is a trade show that helps connect job shops and manufacturers to engineers, management, and buyers who need their expertise and servcies.

Beliel and several Ponca City businesses including K&C Manufacturing, Moonlight Machine, Centerline Inc., and Century Products.

Next, PCDA Executive Director David Myers and Beliel provided a report on the need for detention basins on the east and west sides of Ponca City Airport to promote industrial growth and potential solutions.

The Board was then advised of updates on construction projects.

Work on the Duke Spec Building is moving along, but it has experienced delays due to weather and some supply issues. The south wall of the building is complete, while most of the north and east walls are up now.

Lori Henderson shared that City Central’s HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) project is currently underway.

Myers then shared his staff report with the Board. February and March were busy for contacts with several new leads that were discussed in closed session.

Beliel then spoke about the Philips 66 Turnaround Project. Philips 66 is anticipating 2000 people coming to the community with this fall’s turnaround. The refinery has put together information for the contractors on places to stay including RV parks, Vrbos, AirBnBs, and other short-term rental properties.

They have also put together a list of activities for these contractors and their families to do while in Ponca City.

This project is expected to ramp up in late April to early May. The peak will be between July through September.

The Oklahoma Commission Expansion Program held a luncheon at Pioneer Technology Center (PTC) on Friday, March 9. This luncheon served to introduce or align businesses in town about this program.

Henderson shared that she and Myers attended the Select Oklahoma Day at the capitol on Wednesday, March 8. Select Oklahoma is the statewide economic developer membership group that gets together monthly. They heard from several in government including Governor Kevin Stitt, Senate Pro-Tempore Greg Treat and others.

The Board then voted to move into executive session.