The success of a community’s economy does not happen by accident. It is done every day outside of the public eye, one company at a time and one job at a time. Economic development is about working together, doing important but quiet things that build jobs and improve lives. It is about doing the hard work that people rarely see. But every now and then, it is also about stepping into the spotlight to take those really big steps that help define and reshape our future.

This year PCDA broke ground on our fourth spec building, Duke, and all three of our past buildings are serving our growing manufacturing partners. The newest building in Industrial Park will be ready to go from day one. That’s the speed at which the economy is moving right now. Duke is scheduled to be completed in the late spring of next year, assuming supply chains cooperate, but we’re already reaching out to manufacturing companies throughout the United States to let them know that this will soon be available. Please vote yes on January 10th so we can continue this growth.

Ponca City is one of the most robust manufacturing clusters in the state of Oklahoma. If you look around us, that is what Ponca City is really good at. We have wonderful training programs that understand manufacturing and businesses throughout Ponca City that know how to work with manufacturing companies. Most importantly, we have a very skilled workforce that knows how to make things, and a vision to grow that workforce in the years ahead.

We’re very proud of our industry and what our manufacturing companies accomplish every day. The employees of these companies stayed on the job during the pandemic because they were in every way essential. Those paychecks provided the means to purchase goods and services throughout our community. Our partnerships with manufacturing companies and supporting their growth is just a small example of how and why the Ponca City economy is growing.

Take a drive through an industrial park sometime between now and January 10th, drive slowly and take in everything that is moving, working, and growing. You may be surprised at the growth that has been happening. Every single building on this side of the Waverly, with the exception of the Albertsons Warehouse, was a product of the work of Ponca City’s economic development programs. Duke will continue the legacy, and with your yes vote on January 10th I believe so much more will come to the Ponca City Economy.

PCDA is proud of our accomplishments and excited for the future. Thank you so much for your support and I urge you to have intentional conversations over the next few weeks leading up to this important election in support of our economy. Asking your friends and family to vote yes on January 10th and sharing your own passion for our economy to continue to grow and thrive is the best way to support Ponca City now, and for the years ahead. Respectfully, Nancy Taylor-Laffey

Chair, Ponca City Development Authority